On Friday 18th August 2023, Niger’s state television announced that Mali and Burkina Faso has dispatched warplanes to the country, in a show of solidarity.
On the same Friday, the ECOWAS commissioner for peace and security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, said 11 of its 15 member states agreed to commit troops to a military deployment, saying they were “ready to go” whenever the order was given.
On Saturday 19th August, an ECOWAS delegation met with the ousted president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum and also held talks with General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the leader of the military government.
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In the report aired on Niger’s state television, the two West African countries were said to have dispatched the warplanes to Niger Republic to support the country against possible military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
“Mali and Burkina Faso turned their commitments into concrete action by deploying warplanes to respond to any attack on Niger,” it said, noting that the planes are Super Tucano fighter jets.
In a press briefing on Friday, Abedel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS commissioner for peace and security stated that the block is ready for deployment of its forces as they are ready to go.
He went further to add that “The D-day is also decided.”
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is made up of fifteen member countries that are located in the Western African region.
The 11 member states that are stated to have committed troops to the ECOWAS Stand-by force does not include Niger itself, and the bloc’s three other countries under military rule following coups: Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso.
At about 1pm (12:00 GMT) on Saturday, a day after ECOWAS’ military chiefs said they were ready t intervene militarily to reinstate Bazoum, a plane carrying an ECOWAS delegation landed in the Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic.
Niger’s governing military council confirmed the arrival of the ECOWAS representatives, headed by former Nigerian leader Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The group was allowed to meet Bazoum, the first time foreign officials have seen the ousted leader in weeks.
“We met Bazoum, we heard from him what was done to him. He told us about the problems he’s facing. We’ll take it to the leaders who sent us here,” said Abubakar. “Without doubt, the meeting has opened discussions to lead to a way to resolve this crisis.”
The West Africa representatives also met with Tchiani on Saturday, though there was no information as to what was discussed.
There was no immediate comment from the military rulers. Tchiani was scheduled to address the nation in a televised address on Saturday evening.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
