The Economic Community of West African States has issued an ultimatum to Niger's coup forces, demanding that they release President Mohamed Bazoum and restore constitutional order by August 6, or face military intervention in the country.
Days before the deadline, Niger's new military government requested help from the Russian mercenary group Wagner, according to an analyst.
The request was made during a visit by the coup leader, General Salifou Mody, to neighboring Mali, where he was in contact with someone from the Wagner group, according to Wassim Nasr, a senior journalist and researcher at the Soufan Center.
“They need Wagner to ensure their hold on power in Niger,” Nasr said, adding that the mercenaries were considering the request from the Niger coup plotters.
US officials have warned that the Russian mercenary group could seek new opportunities in Niger. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see Wagner try to exploit this situation to their own advantage. They have tried to exploit other situations in Africa to their advantage,” said US State Department spokesman Matt Miller.
General Salifou Mody during a visit to Mali on August 2. Photo: CNN
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on Niger and sent a delegation to the country’s capital Niamey on August 3 to seek an “amicable solution.” However, a member of the delegation said they were denied entry to Niamey to meet with the junta leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, and did not stay long.
On August 4, the Nigerian Senate advised President and ECOWAS Chairman Bola Tinubu to consider other options other than the use of force to restore democracy in Niger, noting the “cordial relationship that exists between Nigeriens and Nigerians.”
However, final decisions of ECOWAS are made based on consensus among member states.
ECOWAS leaders agreed on a plan for military intervention in Niger on August 4 after meeting in the Nigerian capital Abuja, unless the coup group restores civilian rule by August 6.
Defense ministers from ECOWAS countries (excluding Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea and Niger) attend an extraordinary meeting in Abuja, Nigeria on August 4, to discuss the situation in Niger. Photo: France 24
“We are determined to stop the crisis in Niger, but ECOWAS will not tell the coup plotters when and where we will strike,” said Abdel-Fatau Musah, the organization’s commissioner for political, peace and security affairs.
Niger's military government has vowed to respond “immediately” to any foreign intervention and has detained Mr Bazoum and his family at his residence in Niamey for 10 days.
The governments of neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso have said intervention in Niger would be tantamount to a declaration of war against them.
Mali's government said President Assimi Goïta welcomed a large military delegation from Niger on August 2. Photo: CNN
After a visit to Mali, General Mody warned against military intervention, vowing that Niger would do what was necessary to avoid becoming “a new Libya,” Niger state television reported on August 4.
Niger is seen as the West's last reliable counter-terrorism partner in a region that has been plagued by coups in recent years.
The US and other partners have poured hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance into the region to counter the growing jihadist threat. France has 1,500 troops in Niger, although the coup leaders say they have severed security agreements with Paris. The US has 1,100 military personnel in the country.
It remains unclear how the military intervention in Niger will unfold, when it will begin, or whether it will receive support from the West. Niger's military government has urged citizens to be on the lookout for spies, and self-organized militias have mobilized at night to monitor and patrol the capital .
Nguyen Tuyet (According to AP, Euro News, CNN)
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