The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) defence chiefs rose from their two-day meeting in Accra, Ghana, yesterday with a resolution to intervene in Niger anytime the order is given.
“We are ready to go anytime the order is given. The D-Day is also decided,” an official told France 24.
It was also learnt that regional economic bloc could send a diplomatic mission to Niger on Saturday (today) though previous delegations failed to meet the country’s new military leader.
“Tomorrow (today) there is the possibility of an ECOWAS mission going into Niger to continue to pursue the peaceful path to restoration of constitutional order.
“We are ready to resolve the issue peacefully but it takes two to tango,” said ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs and security, Mr Abdel-Fatau Musah
Also yesterday, President Bola Tinubu warned of grave consequences if the health of ousted President Mohammed Bazoum suffered.
Tinubu stated this during a call to the EU chief Charles Michel.
“President Bazoum’s detention conditions are deteriorating,” he said.
Meanwhile, the US said it had readied plans to evacuate two key drone and counter-terror bases in Niger if that becomes necessary under the West African nation’s new ruling government.
The force commander, General James Hecker disclosed this to reporters in Washington on Friday.
That planning includes looking for US-allied nations in the Saharan and Sahel regions, some of the world’s most active areas for al-Qaida and Islamic State-allied extremist groups, “that we could maybe partner up with, and then move our assets there.”
Hecker stressed that there had been no decision from the Biden administration regarding whether the Niger military’s July 26 overthrow of the country’s democratically elected president would compel US diplomats or security forces to leave the country.
The force commander added that he believed it would “weeks or much longer” before US officials would announce any kind of decision to evacuate, if it does come to that.
