ECOWAS defense chiefs are gathering to talk about the political situation in Niger. ECOWAS is an alliance of West African countries. The leaders are worried. The ECOWAS asked the military unit that overthrew Niger’s president Mohamed Bazoum in July to step down or risk invasion, but the group chose not to comply. ECOWAS is headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria, and consists of 15 member nations. According to outside security experts, ECOWAS has not been successful in stopping takeovers of power in other West African countries. This encompasses the latest overthrows of governments in Mali and Burkina Faso.
This time, though, the organization has mobilized a “standby force” that is prepared to attack Niamey, the capital of Nigerien, should Bazoum fail to be restored. The organization also imposed travel and financial restrictions on Niger. Nothing has altered as of yet. According to defense experts, ECOWAS is at a loss for how to apply pressure on the group that seized power in Niger. For the Netherlands-based Clingendael Institute, a research organization, Andrew Lebovich focuses on studying northern Africa. He declared: “There are many ways in which an intervention could backfire and harm (ECOWAS).” While the organization might become weaker if significant concessions from (the soldiers in control) are not obtained.
The African Union, a different coalition of African nations, convened earlier this week to decide whether or not to back an ECOWAS military action. 55 African countries are members of the African Union. If the union believed that an ECOWAS military action would destabilize Niger and the surrounding nations, it might stop it. For western countries like France and the US, the position of Niger’s leader matters. There are soldiers from both nations in Niger. They have been assisting local forces in their battles against Islamic extremist organizations by providing training and support. One of the last nations in the region to have a democratic government was Niger.
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