Niger: Junta warns they’d kill deposed president as ECOWAS deploys standby force

 

Niger: Junta warns they’d kill deposed president as ECOWAS deploys standby force

Despite opposition from eminent Nigerians and groups to the use of force against the coupists in Niger Republic, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Heads of State and Government yesterday ordered immediate deployment of a standby force to restore constitutional order in the country.

ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) is a standby arrangement made up of military, police and civilian components which is consistent with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter which provides for regional peace and security arrangements. 

The regional body also called on partners, including the United Nations, UN, to support its efforts to ensure a quick restoration of order in conformity with its normative instruments.

But the junta told a top United States diplomat yesterday that they would kill deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, if ECOWAS countries attempted any military intervention to restore his rule.

ECOWAS decision came hours after the military junta formed a new government and appointed 21 cabinet ministers to serve with the new Prime Minister,  Mahamane Roufai Laouali, and hours after Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, warned against military intervention in Niger.

Before the 2nd extraordinary summit went into a closed-door session in Abuja, chairman of ECOWAS and Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, had said the body will adopt diplomatic approach and negotiations in dealing with the military junta.

But rising from the meeting, the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in a communique resolved to deploy troops to restore constitutional government in Niger Republic.

While noting that the regional body will continue to keep all options on the table, they, however, said there will be consequences for any individual, body or member country found to hinder the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger Republic.

The communique read further: “The Authority, having considered the memorandum presented by the President of the ECOWAS commission on the current situation in the Republic of Niger, as well as ECOWAS engagement since the last extraordinary summit; and having considered the reports of the envoys of the chair to Niger and various other places, carefully considered the report and recommendations of the ECOWAS committee of chiefs of defence staft, extensively discussed the latest development in Niger since the last extra ordinary summit held on July 30, 2023.

Junta warns they’d kill deposed president after any military intervention

Niger’s junta told a top United States diplomat that they would kill deposed President Mohamed Bazoum if ECOWAS countries attempted any military intervention to restore his rule, two Western officials told The Associated Press.

They spoke to the AP shortly before the West African bloc said it had directed the deployment of a “standby force” to restore democracy in Niger, without giving details about its make-up, location or proposed date of deployment.

Representatives of the junta told U.S. Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland of the threat to Bazoum during her visit to the country this week, a Western military official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

A U.S. official confirmed that account, also speaking on condition of anonymity, because they were not authorized to speak to the media.