ECOWAS gives Niger Junta opportunity to reconsider action

 

The leadership of ECOWAS has urged the coup leaders in Niger on Friday that it was “not too late” to change their minds because the use of force in restoring democracy is still “very much on the table.”

Recall that ECOWAS demanded quick restoration of constitutional order, but the generals that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 asked for a three-year transition period.

Defence leaders are preparing a standby mission for a potential “legitimate use of force” to restore democracy if talks fail. This is as delegations are rushing into Niamey to seek a truce.

In the Sahel region, where three other governments have been overthrown by military uprisings since 2020 and terrorists have gained significant territory, the Niger coup has exacerbated tensions.

According to the leaders of ECOWAS, they have already imposed sanctions on Niger to put pressure on the new government since they cannot accept another coup in their area.

“Even now, it is not too late for the military to reconsider its action and listen to the voice of reason as the regional leaders will not condone a coup d’etat,” ECOWAS commission president Omar Alieu Touray told reporters in Abuja.

“The real issue is the determination of the community to halt the spiral of coup d’etats in the region.”

Leaders of ECOWAS are currently in talks with military governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea that are all attempting to make the transition to democracy following their own coups.

The new leaders of Niger have declared that they are still open to talks after initially hesitating, but they have delivered conflicting signals, including a threat to accuse Bazoum of treason.

Since the coup, Bazoum has been held in custody at the government mansion along with his family.

Niger’s military leaders have also warned against any intervention, accusing ECOWAS of preparing an occupying force in league with an unnamed foreign country.

Niger on Thursday agreed with the regimes in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso to let their troops into its territory in case of aggression.