West Africa ECOWAS Nations To Assemble 'Standby Force' For Possible Niger Intervention

 

BBC: Niger coup: West Africa nations to assemble 'standby force' 

West African nations have approved armed intervention in Niger "as soon as possible", the Ivory Coast president says, following a meeting to discuss the coup. 

At the meeting, leaders of the Ecowas regional bloc said they had agreed to assemble a "standby" military force. 

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu said the use of force would be a "last resort". A military junta seized power in Niger on July 26. 

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: There are few options for ECOWAS to overturn Niger's coup .... Few Options on Niger Crisis for West African Leaders (NewYork Times). 

West Africa ECOWAS Nations To Assemble 'Standby Force' For Possible Niger Intervention  

Niger coup: West African bloc activates standby force for possible intervention -- Reuters 

ECOWAS orders ‘immediate activation’ of standby force in Niger -- CNN  

ECOWAS mobilizes reserve force as Niger crisis remains unsolved -- Washington Post  

Western officials: Niger junta warned they'd kill deposed president after any military intervention -- AP  

West African leaders activate standby force to put pressure on junta in Niger -- The Guardian  

ECOWAS leaders say all options open in Niger, including ‘use of force’ -- Al Jazeera

How Would ECOWAS Invade Niger?

The #ECOWAS deadline for reinstating Niger's President and restoring the constitution has now passed.

As the deadline expired, #Niger closed its airspace.

ECOWAS defence chiefs have drafted military intervention plans, pending final agreement on implementation and timing. pic.twitter.com/1YFbmdodiY

— War Mapper (@War_Mapper) August 7, 2023

DW: Niger: How might an ECOWAS military intervention unfold? 

How likely is West Africa regional bloc ECOWAS to use force to restore Niger's democracy and what are its chances of success? DW dives into the bloc's dilemma. 

West Africa's defense chiefs were wrapping up a meeting in Nigeria's capital Abuja on Thursday where they discussed the possibility of a military intervention if diplomatic efforts fail to reinstate Niger's ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum. 

The Economic Community of West African States, the regional bloc known as ECOWAS, threatened the use of force if coup leaders don't restore Bazoum to power by Sunday.  

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Update: Africa Map Shows Which Ecowas Countries Could Invade Niger (Newsweek) 

WNU Editor: Bottom line. ECOWAS does not have the logistics to accomplish a military intervention in Niger. The only way that it could be accomplished is with French/U.S. involvement.

West African Leaders (ECOWAS) To Meet On Niger After Junta Ignores Deadline To Reinstate Ousted President

 

Reuters: West African Leaders to Meet on Niger After Junta Defies Deadline 

NIAMEY (Reuters) -West African leaders scheduled a summit for Thursday to discuss the Niger junta's rejection of an ultimatum to reinstate the ousted president, as the United States sent a top official to Niamey to push for a return to democracy. 

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had told leaders of the July 26 coup to stand down by Sunday or face a possible military intervention. 

But the junta, under self-declared head of state General Abdourahamane Tiani, former commander of Niger's presidential guard, instead closed the airspace and pledged to defend the country. 

The bloc has not directly responded but said on Monday it would hold the Thursday summit to discuss the standoff, a decision the European Union and United States said allowed more time for mediation.  

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Update: West African Leaders Will Meet Thursday After Niger’s Junta Defies Key Deadline and Shuts Airspace (AP)  

WNU Editor: Niger is calling ECOWAS's bluff to reinstate the ousted President or face a military intervention. And it gets worse. Nigeria, the country that will lead such an intervention, is facing significant internal opposition to not get involved .... Nigeria's President Tinubu faces backlash over military intervention in Niger (BBC).

ECOWAS Warns The Military Juntas In Mali And Guinea Bissau

ECOWAS Warn Mali, Bissau Juntas, Prepares Troops -- Reuters

(Reuters) - West African leaders warned military juntas in Mali and Guinea Bissau on Thursday that further defiance of the 15-nation bloc's decisions would not be tolerated but stopped short of deploying troops to both countries.

Meeting in the Senegalese capital for their second extraordinary summit in a week, the heads of state heard that soldiers who seized power in both countries continue to reject proposals put forward for transition to civilian rule.

Soldiers in Mali staged a coup on March 22, precipitating a Tuareg rebellion that has left a third of the country occupied by armed groups with links to al Qaeda.

The coup in Guinea Bissau took place halfway through elections in the former Portuguese colony, which has endured decades of instability since independence in 1974 and become a transit hub for Latin American cocaine.

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Update: W. Africa bloc threatens coup leaders in Mali, G. Bissau -- AFP

My Comment: The problem with these warnings and threats is that the ECOWAS bloc lacks the money and resources to finance such a military engagement.