The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced that it has set a date for a possible military intervention to restore Niger’s democratically elected president following last month’s coup. Abdel-Fatau Musah, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace & Security of ECOWAS, stated that military forces are prepared to act whenever the order is given.
The specific date of the intervention, referred to as the “D-Day,” has been kept undisclosed. ECOWAS recently ordered the activation of a regional standby force to prepare for entry into Niger, which was taken over by a military junta on July 26.
The primary objective of ECOWAS is to restore constitutional order in Niger as quickly as possible. Musah emphasized the need for fruitful dialogue and called for the release of the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum.
Niger, a democratic nation in the heart of Africa’s Sahel region, has experienced multiple military coups since gaining independence from France in 1960. Bazoum’s election win in 2021 marked a relatively peaceful transfer of power.
ECOWAS responded to the coup by imposing sanctions and issuing an ultimatum to the ruling junta, demanding their resignation within a week or face potential military intervention. According to Musah, all options remain on the table, but the preference is for a peaceful restoration of constitutional order.
The bloc has deemed the coup in Niger to be one coup too many for the region and has decided to take action. ECOWAS defense chiefs have concluded their meetings on the issue and are focused on putting a stop to the coup.