DAKAR (Reuters) – West African nations are pushing forward with plans for potential military intervention in Niger following the recent military coup, although they remain hopeful for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
The Nigerien army removed former President Mohamed Bazoum from power on July 26, marking the seventh coup in West and Central Africa within three years. This action has increased concerns about further instability in a region already grappling with a severe Islamist insurgency.
ECOWAS, the regional bloc, has ordered the activation of a standby force to potentially combat the junta. While ECOWAS seeks a peaceful restoration of democracy, it has not ruled out military action as an option.
Following the junta’s failure to meet the August 6 deadline for reinstating Bazoum, ECOWAS is expected to assemble a force consisting of thousands of troops. The junta has vowed to defend the country against any foreign attack.
After a summit of heads of state in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, ECOWAS pledged to impose sanctions, travel bans, and asset freezes on the junta, as well as activate a regional force. The size of the force, the possibility of an invasion, and the countries contributing troops remain uncertain.
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara called the detention of Bazoum “a terrorist act” and promised to provide a battalion of troops to the regional force. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed support for ECOWAS’s efforts and stated that the United States would hold the junta accountable for the safety of Bazoum, his family, and detained government members.
Despite being one of the world’s poorest countries, landlocked Niger holds significant geopolitical importance as the world’s seventh-largest producer of uranium. Uranium is an essential material for nuclear power and cancer treatments.
Prior to the coup, Niger was seen as a Western ally, with U.S., French, German, and Italian troops stationed there to combat the ongoing Islamist insurgency in the Sahel region.
(Reporting by Edward McAllister; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
