The Meeting of Chiefs of Staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries held in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, ended.
After the meeting, ECOWAS's Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah stated that the chiefs of staff had completed the plan for a possible military operation in Niger.
Musah underlined that the framework of the military intervention has been determined and all elements are being worked on. He noted that it will not be announced when and where the intervention will begin, but that will be decided by the leaders of the ECOWAS countries.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wrote a letter to the senate in his country, asking for support for military intervention in Niger, where the coup took place.
Tinubu, who is also the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), reminded in his letter that ECOWAS decided to restore(!) peace in the country after the unfortunate political situation in Niger that resulted in the overthrow of President Mohammed Bazum.
Tinubu asked the Senate for support in sending Nigerian soldiers to this country in order to restore the political order in Niger.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that the last resort would be military intervention if the putschists in Niger refused to take a step back.
Adamu Lamuwa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that if the course of the coup in Niger does not change, it will tarnish the reputation of ECOWAS.
ALGERIA AGAINST AN INTERVENTION
Algeria, on the other hand, gave the message that it "opposes this option" to ECOWAS, which keeps the option of military intervention in Niger on the table.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf reaffirmed his "definite" position that Algeria rejected the military coup in Niger.
He stated that Mohammed Bazum should return to his duty as the "legitimate president" of Niger and that constitutional order should be established in the country.