2023-10-25 19:39:42
It appears that the option of military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Niger has been temporarily put on hold. Several countries which had announced their intention to make troops available to ECOWAS have, for the moment, demobilized their forces.
In official circles in Bissau, Dakar and Abidjan, it is accepted that the troops who had been mobilized for a possible military intervention in Niger are no longer on alert. One interlocutor even claimed that they were demobilized, at least temporarily. Furthermore, the date which had been kept secret for the possible intervention against the perpetrators of the coup has now passed, according to a diplomat from the ECOWAS presidency.
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All the sources interviewed seem to agree on one point: the option of “military intervention” was put on hold, mainly due to the decision of Nigeria, which played a key role in this operation. President Bola Tinubu, initially very critical of the perpetrators of the coup in Niamey, finally changed his position.
Several ECOWAS member countries were caught off guard by this turnaround. It should be noted that the Nigerian president was under pressure from religious leaders in his country, but he was also reportedly aware that things were moving faster than expected. From now on, to make the junta in Niamey bend, he would count in particular on the effect of the sanctions which have a severe impact on Niger.
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