Military chiefs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have agreed upon a "D-day" for a possible military intervention to restore democracy in Niger should all avenues of diplomacy fail. A senior ECOWAS official told reporters of the decision Friday (August 18) but fell short of disclosing when it would happen.
The bloc's Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah made the comments at the end of a two-day meeting of ECOWAS military chiefs in Ghana's capital Accra, where they have been planning the logistics and strategy for a possible use of force in Niger that ECOWAS has said would be a last resort.
"We are ready to go anytime the order is given," Musah said. "We've already agreed and fine-tuned what will be required for the intervention."
Musah also stressed ECOWAS was still employing all diplomatic means necessary to peacefully deal with the junta in Niamey, adding the bloc was readying a "mediation mission" into the country, as per Reuters.
Sahel, West Africa on the Verge of War
Senior military officers deposed Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 and defied calls from the United Nations, ECOWAS, and other entities to restore him, prompting ECOWAS to order a standby force to be assembled.
Most of its 15 member-states, those whose governments are under civilian control, are prepared to contribute to the joint force, another ECOWAS official confirmed Thursday (August 17).
The bloc's military chiefs have declined to mention anything about their deployment plans and strategic details as of this report.
No matter how necessary, a military intervention might further destabilize an already distressed Sahel region due to its long-standing issue of Islamist insurgency.
Niger also has strategic importance beyond West Africa due to its oil and uranium reserves, as well as a hub for foreign troops involved in the fight against Al Qaeda- and Islamic State-affiliated groups.
Meanwhile, France 24 reported US officials are preparing to evacuate its drone bases from Niger if ever it became necessary for ECOWAS to conduct its military intervention should all avenues of diplomacy fail.
