The African Union (AU) announced on Tuesday August 22 to suspend Niger from its institutions after the July 26 coup and displayed a reserved position on a possible West African military intervention, according to a press release from its Peace and Peace Council. Security (PSC).
The PSC “takes note of the decision of ECOWAS”, the West African regional organization, “to deploy a force” in Niger and requests the AU Commission to “undertake an assessment of the economic, social and security” of such a deployment, explains the PSC, against a background of strong differences within the AU on this subject.
During a meeting on “the situation in Niger” held on August 14, the PSC also decided “to immediately suspend the participation of the Republic of Niger from all activities of the AU and its organs and institutions until effective restoration of constitutional order in the country,” according to its statement released on Tuesday.
ECOWAS on standby
After the overthrow by the military of President Mohamed Bazoum, elected in 2021, ECOWAS announced on August 10 its intention to deploy a West African force “to restore constitutional order in Niger”. ECOWAS continues to repeat its preference for a diplomatic solution but still threatens the use of force, an option on which the AU is divided.
On Friday, after a meeting of West African chiefs of staff in the Ghanaian capital Accra, the commissioner for political affairs, peace and security of the regional organization Abdel-Fatau Musah indicated that “the day of intervention” was set, as were “the strategic objectives, the necessary equipment and the commitment of the Member States”.
“If an attack were to be undertaken against us, it will not be the walk in the park that some people believe in,” Niger’s new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tiani, replied on Saturday.