ECOWAS is getting organised. The contours of a “possible military intervention” by ECOWAS against the putschists in Niger have been “defined”, one of the ECOWAS officials announced on Friday, after the meeting of the chiefs of staff. of the West African bloc in Abuja.
“All the elements of a possible intervention have been worked out at this meeting, including the necessary resources, but also how and when we will deploy the force,” the Commissioner for Political and Political Affairs told reporters. of Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah.
ECOWAS ultimatum expires in two days
However “ECOWAS is not going to tell the putschists when and where we are going to strike,” he said, adding that it is an “operational decision that will be taken by the heads of state” of the bloc. On July 30, the West African bloc, which imposed heavy sanctions on Niamey, gave the putschists seven days to restore President Bazoum, who was overthrown on July 26, to his post, under penalty of using “force”.
Two days before the end of the ultimatum, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) continues to ensure that it favors the diplomatic channel to resolve the crisis in Niger, in particular with the sending of a delegation in Niamey. The military option is the last on the table, she said.
“We want diplomacy to work, and we want this message to be clearly transmitted (to the putschists, editor’s note), namely that we are giving them every chance to reverse what they have done”, added the head of the ECOWAS. The putschists promised an “immediate response” to “any aggression” from an ECOWAS country.