ECOWAS Defence Chiefs Agree On D-Day for Invasion of Niger

*UN to Junta: Rule-By-Gun has no place in today’s world

Bennett Oghifo

The Defence Chiefs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ended their two-day meeting in Accra, Ghana, yesterday, with an agreement on a “D-day” for a possible military intervention to restore civil rule in Niger Republic if diplomatic efforts fail.
This is coming on the heels of the United Nations reaction to Niger’s military junta threat to prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason, saying “rule-by-gun has no place in today’s world.”

Soldiers from the Presidential Guard had on July 26 deposed President Bazoum, thus truncating the constitutional political leadership in the West African country. Two days later, the soldiers named General Abdourahamane Tchiani as the new leader of the country, with Tchiani warning against any foreign military intervention.
After a meeting of ECOWAS Heads of States and Government in Abuja last week, the bloc directed the deployment of a “standby force” to restore democracy in Niger.

The West African army chiefs decided to meet in Ghana (Thursday and Friday) to hatch out the logistics and strategy for a possible use of force in Niger that ECOWAS has said would be a last resort.

Speaking yesterday after the Defence Chiefs’ meeting, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, said the “D-Day” for the military intervention in Niger Republic had been agreed, without disclosing the exact date.
Musah said: “We are ready to go anytime the order is given. The D-Day is also decided. We’ve already agreed and fine-tuned what will be required for the intervention.”

Musah noted that the community was still seeking to engage with the junta peacefully, saying, “As we speak, we are still readying a mediation mission into the country, so we have not shut any door.”
The ECOWAS Defence Chiefs had on the first day of the two-day meeting in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, to fine-tune details of a potential military operation to restore Bazoum if continuing negotiations with coup leaders fail, pledged readiness to participate in a standby force that would restore democracy in Niger.
On that first day, all member states, except those under military rule and Cape Verde, agreed to activate a “standby force” as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger.

On July 30, ECOWAS, led by Nigeria, decided on sanctions against the military Junta in Niger and gave a week’s ultimatum to them to restore ousted Bazoum to office.
In addition to a one-week ultimatum to restore constitutional order and the suspension of financial transactions with Niger, ECOWAS decreed the freezing of “all service transactions, including energy transactions.”

 UN to Niger Junta: Rule-By-Gun Has No Place in Today’s World
Meanwhile, the United Nations yesterday reacted to Niger’s military junta threat to prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason, saying “rule-by-gun has no place in today’s world.”

Last Sunday, the Niger junta threatened to prosecute Bazoum for high treason over his exchanges with foreign heads of state and international organisations.
Junta spokesperson Colonel Amadou Abdramane said last Sunday that the military authorities had “gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute the ousted president for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger.”

Reacting yesterday, the UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk said there was no legal basis for Niger’s military junta to prosecute deposed president Bazoum for high treason.
Turk, also stated that the very notion of freedom in Niger was at stake.
He said, “This decision is not only politically motivated against a democratically elected President but has no legal basis as the normal functioning of democratic institutions has been cast aside.

“The very notion of freedom in Niger is at stake. Generals cannot take it upon themselves to defy – at a whim – the will of the people. Rule-by-gun has no place in today’s world.”
The coup leaders have imprisoned Bazoum and dissolved the elected government of Niger, a major uranium producer and a Western ally in the fight against an Islamist insurgency.