ECOWAS prepares for possible military intervention

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is preparing plans in case military force is used against Niger after a coup there, but hopes to reach a peaceful solution, writes Reuters.
Niger’s army overthrew democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum on the 26th of July, marking the seventh coup in the West and Central African nation in the past three years. The coup has sparked new unrest in the already volatile region.
ECOWAS on Thursday, the 10th of August, ordered the army to be on standby to be used against Niger’s military junta if necessary. The representatives of the bloc stated that they have not given up hope of reaching a peaceful solution.
ECOWAS was expected to start preparing armies to enter Niger as early as August 6, which was the deadline by which Bazuma should have been returned to power. Niger’s military junta has said it will defend the country against any attack from outside.
The human rights organization Human Rights Watch stated that it managed to contact Bazuma, and the ousted president, who is in custody with his wife and son, informed that the treatment was “inhumane and cruel”. “My son is sick, has a serious heart condition, and needs to see a doctor. They’ve refused to let him get medical treatment,” said Bazūms. Since August 2, the president has not had access to electricity, and he has not been allowed to see his family or friends, who tried to deliver the necessary things.
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world. At the same time, the country, which is almost twice the size of France, is the world’s seventh-largest producer of uranium, which is used in both the military industry and medicine. Until the coup, Niger had been a close ally of Western countries after Mali and Burkina Faso underwent political changes, and these countries turned to building relations with Russia.
France announced on the evening of August 10 that it supports all ECOWAS decisions, but did not make any comments on possible support in the event of military intervention. The United States and the European Union have condemned Niger’s military junta and called for the release of Bazuma and his family.