Troopers from 11 West African nations are “prepared” to be despatched into coup-hit Niger to revive ousted president Mohamed Bazoum, officers have stated.
It comes after leaders of the international locations agreed to commit troops for a army operation in Niger, led by the Financial Group of West African States (ECOWAS).
“We’re able to go anytime the order is given,” the ECOWAS commissioner for peace and safety, Abdel-Fatau Musah, stated in Ghana’s capital, Accra, on Friday.
“Our troops are prepared to reply to the decision of obligation of the area.”
Nonetheless, he didn’t give particulars of when the operation may very well be launched.
As an alternative, he urged that an ECOWAS delegation may go to the nation over the weekend with a view to maintain talks with Niger’s coup leaders.
“We will stand down the army possibility,” he stated.
“It [military intervention] is just not our most well-liked possibility – however we’re obliged to do it due to the intransigence of the regime and the obstacles they have been placing in the best way of a negotiated settlement.”
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Niger is presently suspended from ECOWAS following final month’s coup. Three different international locations below army management, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Mali, are additionally suspended from the bloc.
The latter two have warned they may think about any army intervention in Niger by the bloc as an act of battle.
A map exhibiting the ECOWAS space and its suspended members
The 11 international locations which have dedicated troops make up the energetic members of ECOWAS, together with Nigeria, Senegal, and Ghana.
ECOWAS has beforehand threatened army intervention until coup leaders reinstate democratically elected President Bazoum – who was overthrown by members of the presidential guard on 26 July.
He has been below home arrest ever since.
Earlier this month, coup leaders vowed to prosecute deposed President Bazoum for “high treason” and undermining state safety.
Niger’s junta supporters participate in an illustration in Niamey, Niger
Normal Abdourahmane Tiani (proper) was declared as the brand new head of state of Niger
If discovered responsible, President Bazoum may face the dying penalty, in response to Niger’s penal code.
The brand new ruling junta has been hit by sanctions which have pushed up meals costs up by 60% and resulted in 10-hour-long electrical energy cuts.
However the troopers just lately doubled down and introduced a 21-member cupboard to manipulate the nation.