West Africa bloc says it has worked out plan for possible Niger intervention

Abuja, Nigeria (AFP):

West African military chiefs have agreed a plan for a possible intervention in Niger as a deadline nears for the country’s junta to restore civilian rule, an official from regional bloc ECOWAS said Friday.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday gave the junta that toppled elected president Mohamed Bazoum in a July 26 coup one week to restore him or face the potential use of force.

“All the elements that will go into any eventual intervention have been worked out, including the resources needed, and including the how and when we are going deploy the force,” said ECOWAS commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah.

“We want diplomacy to work, and we want this message clearly transmitted to them that we are giving them every opportunity to reverse what they have done,” he added.

Niger’s junta has vowed to respond “immediately” to any foreign intervention and has been holding Bazoum and his family in his official residence in the capital Niamey for nine days.

The military-ruled governments in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso have said an intervention in Niger would be tantamount to a declaration of war against them.