ECOWAS meets again for Niger
In his statement, the ECOWAS spokesman, Amos Lungu, stated that the heads of cabinet will meet again next week with the coup agenda in Niger.
Lungu stated that the meeting will take place in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
The heads of cabinet of the ECOWAS countries met in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on August 2, with the coup agenda in Niger.
The meeting conveyed a message of determination to restore democracy.
BOTH NEGOTIATION AND MILITARY INTERVENTION ARE ON THE TABLE
ECOWAS, at the summit held yesterday in Nigeria, emphasized that the negotiation path for the resolution of the crisis in Niger is still open, but drew attention that the use of force is still on the table as a last resort.
In this context, the defense ministers of ECOWAS member countries were instructed to prepare and deploy their reserve forces.
No information was shared on where and when the reserve forces will be deployed.
THE MILITARY INTERVENTION HAS APPEARED
ECOWAS met for the first time on July 30 after the military seized power in Niger on July 26 and gave the junta 7 days to release President Mohammed Bazum and return to duty.
The one-week deadline given by ECOWAS to the military junta expired at midnight on August 6. ECOWAS stated that it would consider all options, including military intervention, if its demands were not met during this period and, contrary to expectations, it did not launch a military operation.
The possibility of military intervention also provoked the reaction of other junta governments in West Africa.
Burkina Faso and Mali, where the military is in the administration, warned ECOWAS that military intervention in Niger means making war on them in a joint statement they released, and Guinea also made a statement of support for the junta.
SUPPORTERS OF THE COUP WALKED TO THE BASE OF FRANCE
After Friday prayers in the capital Niamey, thousands of putschists gathered near the “Niamey 101 Air Base” where French soldiers are based.
Demanding the departure of French soldiers from the country, the group chanted slogans against the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and France.
The group then marched towards the base. The march ended without incident.
Approximately 1,500 French soldiers are on duty at the military base located near the Diori Hamani International Airport in the capital. (AA)