The West African Cooperation Organization Ecowas has threatened military intervention following the July 26 coup in which a junta took power after toppling the popularly elected government.
The deadline for an intervention expired earlier this week. But no military action has been taken and Niger’s military remains defiantly in power.
After initially saying they would seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis, they reversed themselves late on Thursday evening.
-From today’s meeting, the (individual countries’) chiefs of staff have with them that there is an agreement to start a (military) operation as soon as possible, says Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara when he left the Ecowas meeting in Nigeria’s capital Abuja late in the evening.
– We are firmly convinced to reinstate President (Mohamed) Bazoum, he continued and stated that Ivory Coast is ready to contribute a force of at least 850 soldiers.
Compare with previous coups
Nigeria and Benin must also be ready to contribute forces and other countries are said to be on the way to approving their participation.
Alassane Ouattara compares the coup in Niger with situations in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.
-Ecowas cannot accept what is happening now, he says.
Ouattara’s words stand in stark contrast to earlier statements by the meeting’s host, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, about seeking a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
– It is crucial that we prioritize diplomatic negotiations and dialogue as the basis of our attempts, Tinubu said at the crisis meeting, stressing that talks should also include the coup leaders.
Can be prepared to converse
But the goal remains. Democracy must be restored and deposed President Mohamed Bazoum must be reinstated, Tinubu pointed out.
Negotiations with the coup plotters have so far proved difficult. On Tuesday, plans to send a joint delegation from Ecowas, the United Nations and the African Union were rejected by the junta.