The deadline issued to Niger Republic by military leaders to restore the democratically elected President of the country, Mohamed Bazoum to power ends today.
Recall that ECOWAS defence chiefs had earlier set for a military intervention in Niger warning the coup plotters to return the country to democratic rule of face invasion.
ECOWAS headed by President Bola Tinubu of neighbouring Nigeria, said the junta had a week to restore constitutional order or face the possible use of force
There had also been several calls and attempt to engage the junta in political and diplomatic negotiation.
Also efforts to secure the release of Bazoum who has been kept hostage since the coup plotters assumed power has failed.
The Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS) of ECOWAS countries made this known at the end of their three-day Extra Ordinary Meeting in Abuja
ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, while speaking on the outcome of the meeting commended the military chiefs for taking time to produce a concept of operation for an eventual military intervention to restore constitutional order in Niger.
Musah said that all the elements that would go into any intervention had been worked out and were being refined, including the timing, resources needed and how, where and when to deploy such force.
He said that ECOWAS being a rule-based institution was determined to put an end to the military coup contagion in the region.
“But first, we are giving diplomacy every chance to succeed and there have been multiple approaches to the military Junta in Niger.
“The results of whatever has been achieved here will be presented very soon to the Heads of Central Government who will have the last say as to what we are going to do with regard to the situation in the Republic of Niger, provided that all diplomatic overtures do not yield result.
“So I want to, through this medium also appeal to the military in Niger to give peace a chance, and then think about their populations and do the right thing by immediately restoring constitutional order in their country.
“That is our message to them and if they don’t, then we will make them hand over to civilian authorities and that is the determination of ECOWAS and we want to send that message clearly across to all of them,”
