After two days of meeting in Accra, Ghana, the Chiefs of Staff of the ECOWAS countries took an additional step for a potential military intervention in Niger, “with a view to restoring constitutional order”, three weeks after the coup against President Mohamed Bazoum.
“D-Day has been decided,” according to ECOWAS Political Affairs Commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah. The Commissioner of ECOWAS clarified the fact that an agreement has been reached on equipment, resources. While the numbers and plans have been decided. “We are ready to go. There will be no new meeting of the Chiefs of Staff […]. We want to liberate Niger from the military in power so that this country can focus on its primary objective, the fight against terrorism.” This is one more step in the standoff between ECOWAS and the Nigerien junta.

The diplomatic option still on the table
On the other hand, in the final press release, indications show that the situation may still evolve. First of all, the project must now be validated by the Conference of Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African Countries. Then, the Nigerian Chief of Staff insists on the fact that all options remain on the table. The path to dialogue therefore remains open for ECOWAS.
“We are not declaring war on Niger,” added the ECOWAS political affairs commissioner on several occasions. “There is always a possibility of dialogue”, explained Abdel-Fatau Musah, insisting on the fact that this operation aims to restore constitutional order. He also announced a possible ECOWAS diplomatic mission on Saturday August 19 in Niger. Its delegations have so far failed to meet General Tchiani.

Abdel-Fatau Musah nuances, however, and sums up the tone of this summit: “We are not going to spend our time discussing.”