West African military leaders convened for a second day of talks in Accra, Ghana, with the objective of finalizing plans for a potential military intervention in Niger. The coup that ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26th has prompted regional powers, including the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to consider deploying a standby force if diplomatic efforts fail to reverse the coup.
During the two-day meeting, the defense chiefs focused on discussing logistics and other crucial aspects of the potential deployment. The use of force remains a last resort, with ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah emphasizing that the armed forces of West Africa are ready to intervene if all diplomatic avenues are exhausted.
The majority of ECOWAS member states expressed their preparedness to contribute to the standby force. However, countries currently under military rule, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Cape Verde, are exceptions to this commitment.
An escalation of the situation in Niger would only further destabilize the already impoverished Sahel region, which is already grappling with a decade-long insurgency. Niger’s strategic significance extends beyond West Africa, given its reserves of uranium and oil, as well as its role as a hub for foreign troops engaged in countering insurgents.
By Hauwa M. – Reuters
