ECOWAS Parliament Split Over Military Option for Niger Crisis

The crisis in Niger Republic, where a military coup ousted President Mohamed Bazoum last month, has divided the members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament.

Some parliamentarians are opposed to the planned deployment of troops to restore democracy in Niger, while others support the decision of the ECOWAS heads of states.

The ECOWAS Parliament held a virtual extraordinary meeting on Saturday to discuss the situation in Niger. Twenty-two parliamentarians participated in the meeting, which revealed different views and perspectives on the best way to resolve the impasse.

The first deputy speaker of the Parliament, Nigeria’s Idris Wase, said he was against military intervention, as he doubted its effectiveness and feasibility.

He claimed that economic motives were behind the eagerness of the ECOWAS military chiefs to intervene in Niger. He also said that any war on Niger would have adverse effects on 60% of Nigeria, especially Northern Nigeria.

A member of the Nigerian delegation, Senator Ali Ndume, also expressed his opposition to military intervention. He said that the ECOWAS Chairman, President Bola Tinubu, had no right to close the Niger-Nigeria border and cut electricity without the approval of the Nigerian National Assembly. He said that the ECOWAS Parliament should represent the interests of the people and not impose its will on them.

Hon. Ali Djibo from Niger Republic said that more than 9,000 schools had been shut in his country since the coup. He said that military action had never solved any problem anywhere in the world. He called for dialogue and peaceful negotiation with the junta.

However, some other members did not agree with them, as they argued that there must be consequences for every action that violates democracy and human rights. They said that the ECOWAS heads of states had given an ultimatum to the junta to free President Bazoum and reestablish order or face a military intervention. They said that the ECOWAS had a standby force that was ready to be deployed to Niger if necessary.

The meeting of defence chiefs of the member nations that was scheduled for Accra, Ghana, on Saturday to finalize the plans for military intervention was unexpectedly called off due to ‘technical reasons’. A source said that it was due to the lack of consensus among the ECOWAS members.

Meanwhile, other actors have also intervened in the Niger crisis. Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, has expressed his opposition to military intervention, saying that Nigeria did not need to add a war to its existing challenges. A delegation of prominent Nigerian Islamic scholars led by Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau arrived in Niamey on Saturday in a fresh bid to find a peaceful solution to the impasse.

President Bazoum, who is being held along with his wife and son by the junta, was seen by his doctors on Saturday and a source said he was fine. The junta has closed Niger’s airspace and said that any attempt to violate it would be met with an immediate response.

The crisis in Niger has posed a serious challenge to the ECOWAS and its commitment to democracy and stability in West Africa. The ECOWAS Parliament is expected to continue its deliberations and consultations on how to deal with the situation.

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