ECOWAS instructed to alert the reserve force due to the situation in Niger
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The Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) has instructed the military leaders of the participating countries to put standby forces on alert. Such an announcement was made at the summit of the organization by the chairman of the commission, Omar Aliu Touray.
“The Chiefs of Staff of the ECOWAS member countries have been instructed to put the reserve forces in full readiness in all their aspects with the task of restoring constitutional order in Niger,” Touray said (quote according to TASS).
According to the communique of the summit, “on the table” are all options for restoring constitutional order in the republic. At the same time, the document speaks of the organization’s commitment to a peaceful settlement of the situation.
On July 26, the Niger military announced the removal of President Bazum. The new leader of the country was the head of the presidential guard, Abdurakhman Tchiani, who became the leader of the rebellion. The UN Security Council, the US and the EU did not recognize the coup and demanded the release of the country’s democratically elected president.
Later, ECOWAS issued an ultimatum to the rebels, allowing the possible use of force if constitutional order was not restored in the country within a week. After three days of talks in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, on August 4, the chiefs of staff of the armies of the countries participating in the bloc agreed on a plan for a possible military intervention. On August 6, a few hours before the expiration of the ultimatum, the military leadership of Niger closed the country’s airspace due to the threat of invasion.
On August 8, after the completion of the organization’s ultimatum, the French radio station RFI, citing an official in Nigeria, reported that African countries could send a contingent of 25,000 troops to invade Niger. It was clarified that most of the contingent could come from Nigeria. At the same time, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on August 10 announced his readiness to continue dialogue with the junta.
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