A leader from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Friday revealed that defense chiefs from West Africa have formulated a strategy for a potential military intervention aimed at overturning last week’s coup in Niger.
The plan encompasses details on the deployment of forces, as well as the methods and timing of intervention.
The regional bloc will not disclose the timing and location of its intervention to the coup conspirators. The decision will be made by the heads of state, explained Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security.
“All the elements that will go into any eventual intervention have been worked out here, including the resources needed, the how and when we are going deploy the force,” he said after the completion of a three-day meeting in Nigeria’s capital Abuja.
ECOWAS has already implemented sanctions on Niger and has indicated the potential authorization of the use of force if the coup leaders fail to reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday.
The 15-member group dispatched a delegation to Niger on Thursday with the aim of seeking an “amicable resolution.” However, a source within the delegation noted that a meeting at the airport with the junta’s representatives did not lead to any significant progress.
“We want diplomacy to work, and we want this message clearly transmitted to them that we are giving them every opportunity to reverse what they have done,” Musah said.