Senegal is preparing to send soldiers to Niger as part of an ECOWAS military intervention. The regrouping of soldiers has begun in Thiès.

Is it a question of time? Senegal takes very seriously the possible military intervention of ECOWAS in Niger to restore constitutional order. After the announcement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the participation of Senegalese soldiers, we learn that things are becoming clearer at the level of the Army. A regrouping of soldiers at the level of Thiès has been announced as part of Senegal’s contribution to the ECOWAS intervention force in Niger. The regional organization, which had issued an ultimatum to the putschists in Niger to restore President Mohamed Bazoum to his duties, maintained the military option announced at the first extraordinary summit held the day after this coup. On Thursday, during the second Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State in Abuja, ECOWAS ordered « the immediate activation of its intervention force ».

A week before, the Chiefs of Staff of the ECOWAS Armies had completed their three-day conclave in Abuja to outline the contours of the military operation initiated by the Heads of State of West Africa. They were supposed to meet again this weekend, but the meeting was postponed for technical reasons. In addition to Senegal, Benin and Ivory Coast have pledged to send troops. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said last Thursday that Ivory Coast would provide a battalion of around 1,100 troops alongside other regional neighbours to restore democratic rule in Niger.

However, this military intervention is far from unanimous within the countries of the organization. The junta in Niger has the support of Burkina Faso and Mali, two countries ruled by putschists and suspended from the organization. The military in power in these two countries have warned that they would stand in solidarity with Niger and that any armed intervention would be considered a « declaration of war » against them. To this position of Mali and Burkina Faso, we must add a possible opposition from the Nigerian Senate. The senators of this country, an ECOWAS heavyweight with 215 million inhabitants and which shares a border with Niger, called on President Bola Tinubu to « strengthen the political and diplomatic option ».

It should be noted that according to the Constitution of Nigeria, the Security Forces cannot fight abroad without the prior approval of the Senate, except in the case of “imminent risk or danger” to national security. Cape Verde, a member country of the organization, also opposes it. Its president, José Maria Neves, said on Friday August 11 that “any intervention by military means at this time would aggravate the situation and turn the region into an explosive space”. In addition, countries that are not members of ECOWAS such as Chad and Algeria, but which share a border with Niger, are against military intervention. Will ECOWAS find the right strategy to restore constitutional order? Attendons voir.

By Dieynaba KANE / dkane@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH