West African leaders have finalized a plan to intervene in the Niger coup and bring the elected government back into power as negotiations with the nation's military junta have slowed down.
The defense chiefs from members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have discussed the plan, which includes how and when to deploy forces. The group noted that they will not divulge to the coup plotters when and where they will strike.
West Africa To Intervene in Niger Coup
However, ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace, and security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, said on Friday that the decision will be taken by the bloc's heads of state. He added that all the elements of the plan have already been worked out, including the resources they would need.
On Thursday, the group imposed sanctions on Niger and argued that it could authorize the use of force if the coup leaders in the region do not restore power to elected President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday, as per Aljazeera.
ECOWAS also sent a delegation to Niger on that same day that sought an "amicable resolution" to the situation. However, a source in the entourage noted during a meeting at the airport with the military's representatives did not bear fruit.
Musah added that they want diplomacy to work with the Niger coup plotter, saying that this is the message that they clearly transmitted to them. He said that they are giving the military junta every opportunity to reverse what they have done.
Additionally, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu told his government to be prepared for other options to address the situation. This includes the deployment of military personnel to intervene in the coup. This was revealed in a letter that was read out to the senate on Friday and Senegal, another West African nation, said that it was also ready to send troops.
On the other hand, the Niger military junta has severed military agreements with France, which was its former colonial ruler. It also announced that it was firing some of the previous government's key ambassadors. The coup leaders also warned citizens of the West African country to watch for foreign armies and spies, according to the Associated Press.
Overthrowing the Democratic Government
President Bazoum later wrote a letter saying that he was a hostage and requested assistance from the United States and other partners. The Niger military junta's announcement on Thursday deepened the post-coup isolation for what many saw as the U.S.'s and allies' last major security partner in the Sahel.
Christopher Musa, the Nigerian defense chief, asked the regional military chiefs to follow a sense of urgency in regard to Niger. He also called for action to address other security lapses in West Africa and noted that the recent coup only highlights the "fragility of our region."
The Niger coup plotters' leader said that they conducted the mutiny because the country's government has proven that it was unable to deal with Islamist terrorism or address its supposedly poor economic and social governance.
It also represents another overthrow of democratic governments by army officers who seemingly have connections to Russia through arms sales or ties to the Wagner mercenary group. The coup plotters, who come from Niger, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Mali, have displayed a remarkable resemblance to one another, said The Hill.
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