ECOWAS military leaders make decision regarding the Niger Republic

ECOWAS defence chiefs emphasised the need for a comprehensive strategy that addresses the political, security, and diplomatic aspects of the Niger Republic situation on Friday.

At the conclusion of their three-day Extra Ordinary Meeting in Abuja, the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries announced this.

Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria and chair of the committee, praised ECOWAS for upholding democracy and added that the armies of the member nations fully supported their stance.

He said that everyone on the group understood the seriousness of the situation in Niger and the immediate need for a carefully planned response.

Musa noted that they also looked at the coup’s immediate consequences and any potential knock-on implications throughout the ECOWAS region.

We also discussed the wider implications for democracy, peace, and stability in West Africa, and we are happy to report that our talks produced insightful findings and practical suggestions.

“We have accepted the need for an all-encompassing strategy that takes into account diplomatic, security, and political elements.

We must immediately put our discussions into practise by taking decisive steps to resolve the situation and stop it from happening again.

“Democracy is what we stand for and what we will sustain,” he declared.

The coup in Niger, according to Musa, marked a flagrant contempt for the fundamental principles that support regional integration and stability. The military leaders also concurred that there was no other option to democratic norms and the rule of law in the area.

He said that the regional security architecture should be strengthened to improve the region’s collective response to security concerns, saying, “We must condemn such action and demonstrate our unwavering commitment to democracy.”

He claims that the group acknowledged that the coup in Niger had brought attention to the area’s vulnerability.

To effectively confront threats to our collective security and improve interoperability, our defence and security forces must increase intelligence sharing, joint training exercises, and capacity building initiatives.

“We need to step up our diplomatic efforts in order to communicate with all necessary players.

“Our strategy for addressing the problem in the Republic of Niger should prioritise dialogue and discussions.

He emphasised that in order to promote an inclusive and peaceful transition process, “we must engage the traditional authorities, civil society, organisations, and all the key actors.”

According to the CDS, the summit urged member states to swiftly put the proposals into practise and turn them into concrete steps for prompt resolutions to the situation in Niger.

“Let’s take use of this chance to leave a lasting impression and make sure that the area as a whole can advance towards democracy, peace, and stability.

“I kindly request that you all give the implementation of the suggestions made during our discussions top priority.

“A focused effort and a sense of urgency are needed for this. To guarantee that our decisions have a real impact on the ground, we must provide the required resources, involve pertinent stakeholders, and track progress.

The military leaders were congratulated by Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security for ECOWAS, for taking the time to develop a plan of operation for a potential military intervention to restore constitutional order in Niger.

According to Musah, all the components of any intervention have been planned out and are currently being fine-tuned, including the timing, the resources required, and the how, where, and when to use such force.

He claimed that as a rule-based organisation, ECOWAS was committed to stopping the spread of military coups in the area.

But first, we are giving diplomacy every opportunity to succeed, and there have been numerous attempts to contact the Nigerian military Junta.

If all diplomatic efforts are unsuccessful, the Heads of Central Government, who will have the final word on what we will do regarding the situation in the Republic of Niger, will be briefed on the outcomes of whatever has been accomplished here very shortly.

“As a result, I want to use this means to urge the military in Niger to give peace a chance, then to consider the needs of their people and act morally by swiftly restoring constitutional order in their nation.

That is our message to them, and if they don’t, we will force them to turn themselves in to civilian authorities. ECOWAS has made that decision, and we want to make sure everyone understands that.

Dr. Ibrahim Kana, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, stated that while Nigeria was dedicated to restoring democracy in Niger, using force would be a last choice.

“Military option is the last option, but the President has directed us, the Ministry of Defence, and the Nigerian Armed Forces to come together with other ECOWAS members,” he said.

Niger, Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso were not present, but Togo, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Nigeria, Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Ghana, Gambia, Cote Devoir, Cape Verde, and Benin were.