State television in Niger reported that the heads of state of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger held a meeting in the capital Niamey as part of efforts to counter possible military intervention by ECOWAS countries. Niger

Television aired images of warplanes from Mali and Burkina Faso stationed in Niger in response to possible military intervention by the ECOWAS group, implementing the two countries’ pledges to stand by Niamey.

The developments came after the ECOWAS group announced at the end of its military chiefs’ meetings in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, that it had agreed on a plan and date for possible military intervention in Niger, but it made it clear. Don’t enter into an avoidable war.

For two days, military leaders discussed ways to return to power President Mohamed Bassum, who was ousted in a July 26 coup in Niger.

Crawl day

The ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, Abdel Fattah Moussa, said: “We are ready to go any time the order is given. The date of the march has been set, but we will not disclose it.”

Moussa said the group is ready to intervene in Niger whenever the order is given, adding, “The military option is not our preferred option, but we are forced to do so because of the instability of the military group in Niger.”

He stressed that all member states of the group have provided the necessary resources to implement the process, adding that any intervention in Niger would not be a declaration of war against it, and was short-term and aimed at restoring constitutional order.

Moussa insisted that ECOWAS “will not engage in an avoidable war” and could withdraw the military option, noting that the group had discussed the potential humanitarian problems of any military intervention in Niger.

Diplomatic efforts

As diplomatic efforts continued, European Council President Charles Michel – in contact with Nigerian President Paula Tinubu – confirmed that the EU would not recognize the powers resulting from the coup in Niger, and that the democratically elected President Bassum would remain the legitimate president. .

The Nigerian president, for his part, warned of “severe consequences” if Bassum’s health worsened, adding that “the conditions of President Bassum’s detention are deteriorating and further deterioration of his health will lead to serious consequences”.

After the July 26 coup, Basoom has been detained in the official presidential residence with members of his family, and coup leaders confirmed that he was doing well and that his doctor was visiting him, but announced that they wanted to question him on the charges. Treason and undermining national security.

For his part, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Simao, said he met with the coup leaders’ designated prime minister in Niger, Muhammad al-Amin al-Zain. In the context of looking for practical ways to help Niger out of crisis.

Chimao added – at the end of his meeting with Prime Minister Al-Amin Al-Zain and two members of the military council – that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss a way to ensure a speedy return to constitutional status in Niger.