Will there be a military intervention to try to dislodge the putschists in Niger? The chiefs of staff of the West African armies began their meeting on Thursday August 17 in Accra (Ghana). The objective “is not simply reacting to events, but proactively charting a path that leads to peace and supports stability”, said Nigeria’s Chief of Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa. This meeting is due to conclude on Friday. President Mohamed Bazoum, overthrown by the July 26 coup, is still being held prisoner. Follow our live.
Berlin wants the EU to take sanctions against the perpetrators of the coup. “Germany supports African efforts to resolve the crisis in Niger. Our goal is to restore constitutional order”wrote German diplomacy on Thursday, in a tweet.
The preferred diplomatic channel. If the option of an intervention remains considered, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) still seems to favor dialogue and diplomacy with the putschists. Calls for a peaceful settlement of the crisis have multiplied in recent days, including among certain Western partners such as the United States.
“We expect the putschists to release the president.” Oumar Moussa, deputy chief of staff of the ousted Nigerien president, was the guest of franceinfo on Thursday morning. President Bazoum “maintains form, he stays the course and he is keen on a return to constitutional order“, he assures. “Even if we continue to pressure him to sign any resignation, that won’t be the case.”
The political crisis in Niger risks aggravating food insecurity. The United Nations humanitarian agency, OCHA, pointed out that even before the coup, the country had more than three million people in a situation of acute food insecurity. More than seven million people, currently in a situation of moderate food insecurity, “could see their situation worsen due to the ongoing crisis”, notify the agency.