Economic Community of West African States Defence Chiefs have agreed on a “D-day” for a possible military intervention to restore civil rule in Niger if diplomatic efforts fail.
According to Reuters, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, said this on Friday, without disclosing when the D-Day is.
The official made the comments at the end of a two-day meeting of West African army chiefs in Ghana’s capital Accra, where they have been hashing out the logistics and strategy for a possible use of force in Niger that ECOWAS has said would be a last resort.
The ECOWAS troops, Thursday, pledged readiness to participate in a standby force that would restore democracy in Niger after generals toppled and detained President Mohamed Bazoum.
All member states, except those under military rule and Cape Verde, agreed at a meeting in Accra, Ghana capital, on Thursday to activate a “standby force” as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger.
ECOWAS defence chiefs had a two-day meeting in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, to fine-tune details of a potential military operation to restore Bazoum if continuing negotiations with coup the leaders fail.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the two-day meeting, Musah as quoted by Reuters said “We are ready to go anytime the order is given.
“The D-Day is also decided.
“We’ve already agreed and fine-tuned what will be required for the intervention.”
Musah noted that the community was still seeking to engage with the junta peacefully, saying, “As we speak, we are still readying (a) mediation mission into the country, so we have not shut any door.”
On July 26, officers of the Presidential Guard arrested President Muhammed Bazoum and declared him deposed.
On July 30, ECOWAS, led by Nigerian Tinubu, decided on sanctions against the military personnel in Niger and gave a week ultimatum to the military junta to restore ousted Bazoum to office.
In addition to a one-week ultimatum to restore constitutional order and the suspension of financial transactions with Niger, ECOWAS decreed the freezing of “all service transactions, including energy transactions.”
On August 3, ECOWAS sent a three-man delegation to Niger to resolve the current political impasse in the country which proved abortive.
After the one-week ultimatum expired, West African leaders met on August 10 and approved a “standby force” to reinstate elected Bazoum.
