TIG Post

Tag: Niger junta

  • We will not let Niger junta know when we will ‘attack’ – ECOWAS

    We will not let Niger junta know when we will ‘attack’ – ECOWAS

    Commissioner Political Affairs, Peace & Security of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, has noted that the Niger junta will be hit by the presence of the bloc’s military when they least expect it.

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has indicated that a significant number of its member nations are prepared to engage in a standby force, which could potentially intervene in Niger following a coup that transpired there at the end of the previous month.

    In view of this, top military leaders from the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) began a two-day strategic meeting in Accra on Thursday, which ends on Friday, August 18.

    In an interview with JoyNews on Thursday, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah noted that the meeting was just to enable the bloc refine its plans.

    “They are just putting final touches to their operational plans and then get our troops ready. This is more or less like a pledging meeting because the concept of operation is already ready. All the factors have been taken into account, what are the potential obstacles, how to overcome them, all these were taken into account in the planning session.

    “So this meeting is just to refine what we have, while preparing for possible intervention. My interaction with the Chief of Defence Staff of all the Member states shows that they are all determined to go,” he stated.

    When exactly the possible invasion would occur, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah withheld information.

    He argued that disclosing such information will give the Niger junta the needed time to prepare for ECOWAS’ military intervention.

    “When, I’m not going to tell you because that’s an operational secret. When you tell them we are going to start marching tomorrow, then you give them advance notice to defend. So we know when the military could go in and up till now, there are diplomatic overtures,” he explained.

  • Our military resources are enough to face Niger’s junta – ECOWAS

    Our military resources are enough to face Niger’s junta – ECOWAS

    ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, has defended the regional organization’s stance on military intervention in Niger, describing calls for the decision to be reversed as unjustified.

    Speaking at the Extraordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff held in Accra, Ambassador Musah highlighted the severity of the situation in Niger.

    The purpose of the meeting was to strategically outline an intervention plan for Niger, pending approval from ECOWAS leaders.

    Ambassador Musah affirmed that if ongoing diplomatic efforts fail, the standby force is prepared to take resolute action.

    He emphasized ECOWAS’s unwavering commitment to ensuring peace and stability within Niger.

    Underlining the significance of democratic governance, Ambassador Musah stressed the utilization of all available means to guide Niger back to its rightful democratic trajectory.

    “In case of all other options proving futile, the brave West African forces—both military and civilian—are ready to fulfill their duty. Your bravery has been consistently demonstrated,” Ambassador Musah conveyed.

    He further stated, “We will ensure the restoration of constitutional order in the country through every means at our disposal.”

    Ambassador Musah reiterated that ECOWAS’s dedication mirrors its commitment to preserving democratic principles and safeguarding the political landscape of the region.

    Abdul-Fatau Musah also unveiled the substantial resources and capabilities that ECOWAS possesses to tackle the situation.

    He disclosed that the regional body has the necessary assets to effectively address and counter the disruptions caused by the Niger junta, working towards reestablishing democratic governance in the nation.

  • Evidence for Bazoum’s prosecution for high treason secured – Niger junta

    Evidence for Bazoum’s prosecution for high treason secured – Niger junta

    The Niger junta raised the stakes in its brinkmanship against important neighbours in West Africa who have sworn to restore constitutional order in the coup-torn nation on Sunday by claiming it had acquired evidence to prosecute the country’s former President Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason.”

    The statement was made by the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), the military council that overthrew the government in July. “The Nigerien government has to date, gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute the deposed president and his local and foreign accomplices before the competent national and international authorities for high treason and undermining internal and external security of Niger,” the statement read.

    Since late last month, when Bazoum was overthrown in a coup d’état by the presidential guard, Niger has been plunged in political upheaval. A volatile region of Africa plagued by coups and militant fanaticism was once again in the dark after the coup in July.

    One of the few democracies still in existence in the Sahel was Niger, which is located at its centre.

    Following Niger’s independence from France in 1960, there were years of military coups, which came to a stop with Bazoum’s election victory in 2021.

    Following the coup, the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions and gave the military junta a week to resign or face possible military intervention.

    However, the military junta in Niger has received support from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, three additional West African countries that have all recently undergone military coups, raising the possibility that the conflict could escalate into a crisis for the entire region.

    Bazoum has said that the junta has denied him “all human contact” and hasn’t given him food or medicine.

    The CNSP refuted the claims in a statement, claiming that the expelled leader frequently consults his doctor, with the most recent visit occurring on Saturday.

    The statement said that the doctor raised no concerns regarding Bazoum’s health.

    West African leaders have intensified their criticism of the coup organisers in Niger and commanded the “activation and deployment” of a regional standby army to help the nation return to constitutional order.

    A source told CNN on Sunday that the regional political and economic union known as ECOWAS announced the formation of a parliamentary committee that it intends to dispatch to Niger to meet with coup leaders.

    The insider also stated that on Monday, committee members will initially communicate through Zoom before meeting with coup leaders, but she did not specify when this would occur. The source further stated that the parliamentary committee had 12 members and was presided over by Ahmed Idris Wase, the first deputy speaker of the ECOWAS parliament from Nigeria.

    ECOWAS previously gave coup leaders until August 6 to release and restore Bazoum as president and hand over authority, failing which they would be subject to potential military intervention.

    According to ECOWAS, a separate effort to meet with the Nigerien military junta on Tuesday with the African Union and the United Nations “was aborted” when the military leadership in Niamey informed them of “their unavailability to receive the tripartite delegation.”

    In the meantime, in the capital city of Guinea, Conakry, self-proclaimed Niger defence chief Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou met with Mamadi Doumbouya, the head of the junta and interim president of Guinea. In 2021, Guinea too saw a military takeover.

    At the meeting on Saturday, Doumbouya declared, “We are pan-African, and we will always be there.”

    Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, the newly appointed military chief of Niger, has also appealed to Mali for assistance despite Mali’s significantly diminished military might.

  • US supports peaceful termination of Niger coup

    US supports peaceful termination of Niger coup

    The US says it respects Ecowas‘ resolve to investigate all possibilities for a peaceful settlement to the crisis in Niger after the body authorised a “standby” military deployment.

    After President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by a military coup on July 26, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced he was joining the Ecowas leadership in their appeal for constitutional order in Niger.

    He said that the US would hold the Niger junta responsible for ensuring the safety of Mr. Bazoum, his family, and the jailed officials from his government.

    The former president has been under house arrest for more than two weeks, and the US and UN have expressed worry for his health and safety.

    A Sunday deadline for the junta to reinstall Mr. Bazoum or face military intervention was disregarded.

    Instead, a new cabinet led by military officials has been appointed to govern the nation.

  • We are unable to host ECOWAS due to safety concerns – Niger junta

    We are unable to host ECOWAS due to safety concerns – Niger junta

    The leaders of Niger’s ruling military junta have declined a high-level diplomatic visit, citing concerns over the safety of the visiting delegates.

    Originally, representatives from the regional organization Ecowas, the African Union, and the United Nations were scheduled to arrive today.

    However, the leaders of the coup conveyed to Ecowas that the imposition of sanctions and the looming prospect of invasion by the bloc had led to public discontent. As a result, they explained that the delegation could not be received in a peaceful and secure manner.

    Additionally, the coup leaders disclosed that both Niger’s land and air borders were presently closed.

    Reports emerging from the capital city, Niamey, indicate that despite the fact that the ousted President, Mohamed Bazoum, was democratically elected, numerous individuals view the coup as a positive development.

    Amid these events, Washington has issued a warning about the potential involvement of Russian Wagner mercenaries exploiting the situation resulting from Niger’s coup.

  • Niger junta names new prime minister

    Niger junta names new prime minister

    Following the coup on July 26, the commander of the Niger junta, Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, appointed a former finance minister to the position of prime minister.

    Mahamadou Ouhoumoudou is replaced by Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine since he was in Europe at the time of the coup.

    From 2001 until the army overthrew the late former President Mamadou Tandja in 2010, Mr. Zeine, who is believed to be in his 50s, served as cabinet director and finance minister.

    A junta spokeswoman delivered a statement announcing his appointment on the public television network Télé Sahel on Monday night.

    According to the privately owned ActuNiger news website, Mr. Zeine has recently worked for the African Development Bank in Gabon, Ivory Coast, and Chad.

    Along with appointing Brig. Gen. Amadou Didilli as the nation’s High Authority for Peace Consolidation (HACP) leader and Brig. Gen. Abou Tague Mahamadou as the inspector general of the army and national gendarmerie, the junta made these appointments on Monday.

    It designated Lt Col Habibou Assoumane as the commander of the presidential guard and Col Ibro Amadou Bachirou as the junta leader’s personal chief of staff.