Chiefs of the ECOWAS military have declared that they are finishing up their preparations to “restore order” in the West African nation.
The ‘Standby Force’ to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to power in Niger has started to be assembled, according to an announcement made on Wednesday by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
In order to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger, the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDC) “has begun the activation” of the “Standby Force,” the group declared. The CCDC will convene on Thursday and Friday in Accra, Ghana, to “finalise plans for the deployment of [the] Force.”
The military heads of ECOWAS previously declared that “final plans” for an intervention in Niger had been “finalised” on August 4. On August 10, the force was declared to be operational. According to the French radio RFI, the bloc is mobilising roughly 25,000 troops, the majority of whom are from Nigeria.
On July 26, a group of military personnel in Niamey detained Bazoum and dubbed themselves a committee of national salvation in light of the government’s failure to combat terrorist organisations and its continued collaboration with the former colonial power, France.
Bazoum reportedly wrote an opinion piece from a prison cell that was published in the Washington Post on August 4 and in which he pleaded with the “US government and the entire international community to help us restore our constitutional order.”
Wednesday, according to French media, the African Union declined to support the ECOWAS action. The senate of Nigeria has also voted against approving military intervention, advising President Bola Tinubu to instead look at diplomatic options for resolving the crisis.
Even while some members are opposed, it seems that ECOWAS is making progress. Burkina Faso and Mali stated that they would view any military action against Niamey as a declaration of war against both of countries. Chad and Guinea have rejected both sanctions and intervention in Niger.
A volunteer recruitment drive to fight the ECOWAS invaders has apparently been launched by the military administration of General Abdourahamane Tchiani. Recruitment campaigns have reportedly been announced in Niamey and areas near Nigeria and Benin, according to Radio Nigeria.
There are now 1,500 French troops and 1,000 American troops stationed in Niger, where France and the US maintain various military sites.
