Chiefs of Staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met in Abuja to discuss the situation in Niger following the coup that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum. This meeting, which lasted three days, aimed to study the possibility of a military intervention in the country.
At this meeting, the Joint Chiefs discussed a plan for a possible military intervention. No option has yet been determined, but targeted interventions could be envisaged in the first instance. However, military intervention is seen as the last option and a political decision will have to be made.
The financing of this possible intervention will be mainly provided internally, with Nigeria ready to provide the bulk of the troops. At this stage, no foreign troop participation is expected, but international intelligence cooperation could be considered.
Meanwhile, General Abdourahamane Tiani, leader of Niger’s ruling junta, has rejected the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS and refuses to give in to any threat. Moscow, for its part, called for dialogue to avoid a deterioration of the situation.
On the economic front, the World Bank has suspended disbursements to Niger, which could have consequences for the country’s aid programs. In addition, the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS and UEMOA are beginning to be felt, with major power cuts in the main cities of the country.
In conclusion, the meeting of ECOWAS chiefs of staff made it possible to examine the possibility of a military intervention in Niger after the coup. Final decisions remain in the hands of politicians and further discussions will be needed to determine the modalities and extent of this intervention. In the meantime, the situation in Niger remains tense and the economic impact of the sanctions is already being felt