West African military leaders have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of President Mohammed Bazoum of Niger, who is currently detained.
This appeal was made during the recently concluded two-day 48th Extraordinary Meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff, held in Accra.
The ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff also advocated for the liberation of President Bazoum’s family and the detained members of his cabinet.
Since Monday, July 26, the military junta in Niger has been holding President Bazoum, along with his family and several cabinet members, in detention.
Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, ECOWAS, who made the call in Accra said: “ECOWAS was ready to go to Niger anytime the order is given.”
“The troops across the region are ready to respond to the call of duty. “Operational troops are not disclosed but they are ready equipment-wise, with political will and resources,” he said.
According to Ambassador Musa, ECOWAS was not against the Republic of Niger, however, it was working on Niger coming back to a constitutional rule.
“We have not shut any door, sanctions are on the table, ready to accept dialogue but not any fruitless one.
“We are doing it ourselves. The coup in Niger is one coup too many for the region and we are putting a stop to it,” he said.
The second and final CDS meeting before to the ECOWAS standby force’s deployment in the Republic of Niger, according to Ambassador Musa.
Military leaders from ECOWAS nations used the two-day Meeting as a forum to plan a potential military intervention in Niger.
The military seizure represents the ninth coup or attempted power acquisition within a span of slightly over three years in West and Central Africa. These regions had previously been striving to distance themselves from their image as a “coup belt.”
Just last week, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided to activate a standby force for potential intervention in response to the junta’s takeover.
The Military Chiefs, among their responsibilities, are anticipated to formulate a tactical structure and a plan of action for potential intervention in Niger, contingent on approval from ECOWAS leaders.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS has directed its standby force to reinstate constitutional order in Niger, a directive voiced by Mr. Omar Alieu Touray, the President of ECOWAS. This proclamation was made while reading ECOWAS’ resolution on the Niger coup during the ECOWAS Extraordinary Meeting held on Thursday, August 10, 2023, in Abuja.
Mr. Touray further urged the African Union (AU), partner nations, and institutions to back the resolution endorsed by the sub-regional organization.
He noted that all attempts to engage in dialogue with the Nigerien military junta had been met with obstinate rejection from the coup leaders.