West African military leaders are set to continue their discussions on Friday in Accra, Ghana’s capital, regarding a potential military intervention in Niger if diplomatic efforts fail to reverse a recent military coup.
Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted by military officers on July 26. Despite calls from international bodies such as the United Nations and the West African bloc ECOWAS to reinstate him, the military leaders have refused, leading regional powers to begin preparations for a standby force.
Over the course of their two-day meeting, the defense chiefs have been focusing on the logistics and other details related to a possible deployment of forces, as outlined in the official schedule.
While the use of force is considered a last resort, ECOWAS Commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah emphasized that the capable forces of West Africa are prepared to step in if all other options are exhausted. He criticized the junta’s plan to put President Bazoum on trial for treason, considering it ironic given the circumstances. Key international entities, including the United Nations, European Union, and ECOWAS, have raised concerns about the conditions of Bazoum’s detention.
Most of the 15 member states within the bloc are ready to participate in the standby force, except for those under military rule themselves: Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Cape Verde.
A potential escalation could worsen the instability in West Africa’s impoverished Sahel region, which is already grappling with a decade-long Islamist insurgency.
Niger’s significance extends beyond West Africa due to its uranium and oil reserves, as well as its role as a hub for foreign troops involved in combating insurgents linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
