Niger is facing a political crisis after a group of military officers, known as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), staged a coup d’etat on July 26 and toppled the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
The coup leaders have refused to restore constitutional order and have held Bazoum and his family hostage at his residence.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional bloc that promotes democracy and integration in West Africa, has condemned the coup and imposed sanctions on the junta and their collaborators. ECOWAS has also tried to engage in dialogue with the CNSP, but the junta has rejected all diplomatic efforts and demands.
According to two Western officials who spoke to the Associated Press (AP) on Thursday, the junta has also threatened to kill Bazoum if ECOWAS attempts any military intervention to restore democracy in Niger.
The officials, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said the junta revealed their sinister plot to a top US diplomat, Victoria Nuland, who visited Niger on Monday as the Under Secretary of State.
The threat comes as ECOWAS announced on Thursday that it had decided to deploy a “standby force” to Niger after holding an extraordinary summit in Abuja, Nigeria.
The President of ECOWAS, Omar Touray, said the bloc had discussed the financing and logistics of the military intervention, but did not give any details about the composition, location and date of deployment of the force. He also called on the African Union and other partner countries and institutions to support the decision taken by ECOWAS.
Touray said ECOWAS reiterated its strong condemnation of the attempted coup and the illegal detention of Bazoum, his family and members of his government.
He said ECOWAS held the CNSP fully and solely responsible for the safety, security and physical integrity of Bazoum and his entourage. He also said ECOWAS enforced all measures, including border closures, travel bans and asset freezes, on all persons or groups of individuals who hindered the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
He added that ECOWAS underscored its determination to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis and upheld all measures and principles agreed upon by the previous extraordinary summit held on Niger on July 30.
In his remarks at the summit, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government, President Bola Tinubu said no option was off the table, including the use of force as the last resort in resolving the Niger crisis.
“You will see from the communiqué of this extraordinary summit that no option is taken off the table including the use of force as the last resort. If we don’t do it, no one else will do it for us. We remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting Niger towards peaceful and democratic stability in the country,” Tinubu said.
The Nigerian leader while admitting that there will be challenges ahead, said that the collective resolve of the ECOWAS would navigate all obstacles for lasting peace and prosperity in Niger and other member countries.
He commended the leaders for their “unwavering commitment” to the sub-region and welfare of the African continent. The road ahead will undoubtedly have challenges but I firmly believe that with our collective resolve we can navigate these obstacles and chart a part towards lasting peace and prosperity for Nigeriens and ECOWAS.
“I send my sincere gratitude to all of you for your dedication and valuable contributions during this extraordinary summit. Your unwavering commitment to ECOWAS and the welfare of our continent is highly commendable.
“I want to thank you for your positive remarks and recognition given to me and the government and the people of Nigeria. May our collective efforts pave the way for a brighter future for Nigeriens and all Africans,” he added.
When asked when the defence chiefs in the region would meet, the Director, Defence Information, Defence Headquarters, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, said ECOWAS would decide that and not the Defence Headquarters.
He said, “It is the responsibility of ECOWAS to convene such meetings, not DHQ.”
The coup in Niger has raised concerns about the stability and security of the landlocked country, which is facing multiple threats from Islamist militants, ethnic conflicts and climate change. Niger is also one of the poorest countries in the world, with a population of about 24 million people.
Bazoum was re-elected in February 2023 and he was sworn in on April 2 amid protests from his main rival, Mahamane Ousmane, who claimed electoral fraud.
