In Niger, the question of whether there will be a military intervention by ECOWAS or an agreement with the military putschists continues to raise questions. In a recent statement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of President Bazoum’s government, Hassoumi Massaoudou, affirms that the political decision in favor of a military intervention has been taken and that all that remains is to determine the operational deadline.
However, more than a month after the coup, the ECOWAS military intervention has still not taken place. Some might think that time is on the side of the putschists, but according to Hassoumi Massaoudou, this is a mistake on their part. He affirms that the leaders of ECOWAS remain determined and are ready to initiate the planned military intervention phase if the soldiers do not comply with the conditions laid down, in particular the release of President Bazoum and his restoration to office.
Despite rumors about a possible hesitation from Nigeria, the main driver of the military intervention project, Hassoumi Massaoudou affirms that Nigeria remains committed and ready to act in accordance with the position of ECOWAS. He stressed that preparations are underway in all the countries involved.
Regarding Algeria, which is advocating for a six-month transition led by a consensual Nigerien civilian, Hassoumi Massaoudou believes that his opinion is not important for Niger, because the country is anchored in ECOWAS and has no no treaty with Algeria. He stresses that the main demand of ECOWAS is the release of President Bazoum and his restoration, and that there is no question of considering a transition which could be interpreted as an acceptance of the coup.
In a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Toledo, Spain, some countries, such as Italy, expressed reservations about military intervention. However, Hassoumi Massaoudou claims to have answered their questions and succeeded in convincing them that the military intervention would not be a devastating war like in Libya, but rather a targeted action to restore the elected president and protect the stability of the region.
In conclusion, the question of the ECOWAS military intervention in Niger remains open, but the signs indicate that the political decision in favor of this intervention has been taken and that preparations are underway. The leaders of ECOWAS remain determined to enforce the conditions set, while some countries and Algeria express their reservations. However, the priority remains the release of President Bazoum and his restoration to office. Case to follow