They emphasized that the nation also has cultural and religious values that governed, informed, and ensured the survival, harmony, and cohesion of its people and that they did not plan to compromise those values for LGBTQI+ investors.
Sam George, a member of parliament for Ningo-Prampram, has meanwhile asked Ghana’s parliament to be unwavering and not heed the concerns made by Virginia Palmer, the US ambassador to Ghana, about the passage of the anti-LGBTQ Bill.
“Let no one be in doubt that if everything else fails, the valiant forces of West Africa…are ready to answer to the call of duty,” ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah said.
“By all means available, constitutional order will be restored in the country,” he told assembled defence chiefs from member countries, listing past ECOWAS deployments in Gambia, Liberia and elsewhere as examples of readiness.
Niger’s significance extends beyond West Africa due to its strategic position as a center for foreign military forces engaged in combating Islamist militants in the Sahel region, coupled with its substantial reserves of uranium and oil.
Western nations are concerned that the junta could emulate the actions of its neighbor, Mali, where the military ousted French troops and instead enlisted the assistance of mercenaries from the Russian Wagner group. This particular move was supported by the Wagner group and was well-received in light of the coup in Niger.
Amid protests against the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and in support of the coup leaders in Niger’s capital, Niamey, the local population rejected the notion of external intervention aimed at reinstating the democratically elected president and civilian government. Large crowds have participated in these demonstrations, reflecting the sentiments of the residents.
“I’m not afraid because I know our armed forces are well prepared to deal with any eventuality,” said radio technician Omar Yaye.
“ECOWAS is manipulated by foreign powers. When we see the reactions of France since the coup and especially the harshness of ECOWAS I can only think that these are coordinated actions between France and ECOWAS,” he said, echoing anti-French rhetoric used by the junta since the coup.
‘CAT AND MOUSE’
Former colonial power France has refuted claims made by the junta that it violated Niger’s airspace or was trying to destabilize the nation. It has declared its support for ECOWAS’s efforts to reinstate the rule of law.
As part of global efforts to defeat the Islamist rebels who have killed thousands of people and driven millions from their homes over the past ten years, French troops are stationed in Niger alongside American, German, Italian, and German forces.
Musah denied that France or any other foreign power was trying to influence ECOWAS.
“What they forget is that ECOWAS is a rules-based organisation. We have our protocols, we have our norms and we are ready to protect them,” he said.
“That’s why the heads of state are saying if push comes to shove we are going into Niger with our own contingents, own equipment and our own resources to make sure we restore constitutional order. If other democracy-loving partners want to support us they are welcome,” he said.
Musah accused the Niger coup leaders of “playing cat-and-mouse” with ECOWAS by refusing to meet with its envoys and seeking justifications for their takeover of power.
He said most of the bloc’s 15 member states were prepared to participate in the standby force that could intervene in Niger. The exceptions were those also under military rule – Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea – and tiny Cape Verde.
Musah criticised the junta’s announcement that it had elements to put Bazoum, who is being detained, on trial for treason. The United Nations, European Union and ECOWAS have all expressed concerns over the conditions of his detention.
“The irony of it is that somebody who is in a hostage situation himself…is being charged with treason. When did he commit that high treason is everybody’s guess,” Musah said.
Additional reporting by Francis Kokoroko, Media Coulibaly, Anait Miridzhanian and Edward McAllister; Writing by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Angus MacSwan