Nigeria could invade its neighbour with thousands of soldiers – media

According to RFI, the West African regional grouping has a plan for a potential military intervention in Niger that calls for a force of 25,000 people.

According to a government official quoted by the French radio station RFI on Tuesday, Nigeria is prepared to provide more than half of the forces required to restore constitutional order in neighbouring Niger in the event that it is necessary.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) handed the Niger administration imposed by the July 26 coup a seven-day ultimatum to free President Mohamed Bazoum and reinstate the nation’s disbanded institutions. In the event that Bazoum was not reinstalled, it vowed to interfere militarily. The deadline, though, passed without any military action being done.

Widespread condemnation and sanctions against Niamey were imposed as a result of the coup that ousted Bazoum and was orchestrated by the presidential guard, including from ECOWAS.

After a diplomatic mission dispatched to Niamey for discussions returned without meeting General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the head of the transitional government, West African defence chiefs finalised a strategy for a potential military intervention in Niger on Friday.

In order to find a complete de-escalation strategy, ECOWAS officials said last week that starting a military action against Niger would be a last resort.

According to RFI, who cited the regional alliance’s intervention plan, 25,000 troops would be committed if it decided to take military action in Niger, with Nigeria contributing the largest contingent.

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria asked the Senate for permission to send troops to Niger after pledging to tolerate no coups in the region of West Africa. Legislators chose not to support the mission, nevertheless.

The legislators asked Tinubu, who also serves as the chair of the ECOWAS body of heads of state and government, to pursue diplomatic options even though they denounced the coup.

Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, and Senegal are the other three nations that have offered to send troops to Niamey in addition to Nigeria.

The ECOWAS will not reveal the date or location of the operation, according to Abdel-Fatau Musah, the organization’s commissioner for political affairs, peace, and security, who said on Friday that all components of any upcoming involvement have been finalised.

The West and ECOWAS have both received warnings from the new Niger government that any military action would be met with lethal force. Burkina Faso and Mali’s military governments have sided with their counterparts in Niamey and stated that any such action in Niger would be seen as a declaration of war against their respective countries.

The Economist polled Nigeriens, who responded that 78% supported the coup and 73% wanted the coup leaders to hold onto power “for an extended period” or “until new elections are held.”