Explainer | Niger coup: what would West African bloc’s threat to use force to restore democracy look like?
- A military junta overthrew Niger’s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum and his government last Wednesday
- West African regional bloc ECOWAS has threatened to use force to reinstate Bazoum, while Mali and Burkina Faso said they would come to Niger’s defence
The stance of West Africa’s regional bloc known as ECOWAS in the military takeover in Niger is clear: “We will stand with our people in our commitment to the rule of law,” its chairman, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, said at the body’s meeting this week.
The 15-nation bloc summoned its defence chiefs to discuss its threat to “take all measures necessary (that) may include the use of force” if ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstated within one week.
ECOWAS is resolved to use military force after economic and travel sanctions used against the coup plotters failed, according to a Western diplomat in Niamey who did not want to be identified for security reasons.
How the bloc would carry out its threat remains unclear given its lack of coordination in providing security regionally and formally with the US State Department in Niger, said Aneliese Bernard, director of Strategic Stabilisation Advisors.
“There’s not enough actual trust among ECOWAS members, and that lack of trust is what will break any type of coordinated response,” Bernard said.
