West African nations forming military force for possible Niger intervention – National | 24CA News
West African nations on Friday solid forward with plans for a doable navy intervention in Niger following the navy coup there, though it has not given up the hope of a peaceable decision to the disaster.
The Nigerien military ousted former President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, the seventh coup in West and Central Africa in three years and an motion that raised the spectre of extra unrest in an impoverished area already battling a rampant Islamist insurgency.
The regional bloc ECOWAS on Thursday ordered the activation of a standby drive for doable use in opposition to the junta, saying it needed a peaceable restoration of democracy however all choices together with navy motion have been on the desk.
ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) was anticipated to start out placing collectively a drive of 1000’s of troops after the junta had defied an Aug. 6 deadline to reinstate Bazoum. The junta has mentioned it might defend the nation in opposition to any overseas assault.
After a summit of its heads of state within the Nigerian capital Abuja, the bloc pledged to implement sanctions, journey bans and asset freezes on the junta, and activate a regional drive.
It was not clear how large the drive could be, if it might truly invade, and which international locations would contribute.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara mentioned he thought of the detention of Bazoum “a terrorist act” and promised to produce a battalion of troops to the drive.
Reiterating assist for the efforts by ECOWAS, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned the United States would maintain the junta accountable for the protection of Bazoum, his household, and detained members of the federal government.
Despite being one of many world’s poorest international locations, landlocked Niger, which is greater than twice the scale of France, is the world’s seventh-largest producer of uranium, an important materials for nuclear energy and in most cancers remedies.
Until the coup, it was additionally an ally for the West after Mali and others turned in opposition to former colonial energy France in favour of nearer ties with Russia.
U.S., French, German and Italian troops are stationed in Niger as a part of the battle in opposition to the long-running Islamist insurgency that unfold throughout the Sahel area.
