Niger coup: West Africa army chiefs await ECOWAS order to deploy military

Military leaders from across West Africa are on standby, awaiting the activation of the ECOWAS order to deploy forces into Niger.

The objective of this anticipated deployment is to compel the coup-makers to relinquish control and reinstate the ousted President.

This formed a crucial part of the resolutions of the 48th Extraordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS).

The final day of the meeting held in Accra on Friday, August 18, culminated in a strategic consensus among the military chiefs from the region.

ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, addressed the assembly, hinting at the prospect of military intervention as a means to address the ongoing turmoil in Niger.

Speaking to the press, Mr Musah conveyed the preparedness of the ECOWAS forces, stating, “We are ready to go anytime the order is given.”

“The D-Day is also decided, which we are not going to disclose. There will be no more meetings of the Chiefs of Defence Staff. If there will be, it will be probably in the course of the operation if there is the need to adjust the operation. This is the second extraordinary meeting and the final meeting before deployment.”

The Commissioner insisted that the deployment plan is set to unfold with careful precision, with the exact timing strategically determined to maximize effectiveness and minimise risks.

“If all fails, then we have no option but to go to the final option, which is military intervention, and we hope that it is going to be surgical, it is going to be short-lived to ensure that constitutional order is restored.”

The readiness of the West African forces, according to Mr Musah, underscores ECOWAS’s commitment to resolving the crisis in Niger through a multilateral and concerted effort.

However, Abdel-Fatau Musah acknowledged that the ECOWAS mission may undertake renewed talks on Saturday, August 19 in Niger in an attempt to seek a peaceful resolution.

He urged the Niger soldiers to release the ousted president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, his family and other government officials in detention.