West African Leaders Plan for Possible Military Intervention in Niger

One of the officials of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stated on Friday, August 4, that the defense ministers of West African countries have prepared a plan for a possible military intervention to overthrow the military government in Niger, including how to deploy military forces and the timing of their deployment. According to Reuters, Abdoulaye Moussa, the commissioner of the community for peace, political, and security affairs, said that 'ECOWAS' will not disclose the time and place of the military intervention to the coup leaders in Niger. He added that the decision in this matter will be made by the leaders of West African countries. Abdoulaye Moussa, speaking at the end of a three-day meeting in Nigeria, noted: 'All the factors necessary for a possible intervention, including required resources, methods, and timing of troop deployment, have been reviewed.' The Economic Community of West African States has imposed sanctions on Niger and stated that if the coup leaders do not restore power to Mohamed Bazoum, the elected president of the country, by Sunday, August 6, it may issue a mandate for the use of force. This bloc, consisting of 15 members, sent a delegation to Niger on Thursday, August 3, in search of a 'friendly solution,' but a knowledgeable source said that the meeting with representatives of the military government at the airport in Niger's capital yielded no results. The commissioner for peace, political, and security affairs in the Economic Community of West African States said: 'We want diplomacy to be effective, and we want this message to be clearly conveyed to the coup leaders that we are giving them an opportunity to reverse what they have done.' Colonel Amadou Abdramane: France has explored military intervention options in collusion with some people in Niger. Following anti-Western propaganda from the military government in Niger, hundreds protested against France. Joe Biden called for the 'immediate release' of the president of Niger. France has begun evacuating French and European nationals from Niger.