Abdel Fatau Musah, Peace and Security Commissioner of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said in an interview with Al Jazeera TV that a military option was being used to resolve the crisis around Niger, where the rebels dismissed the President. Mohamed Bazum is expected to be removed from power at the end of July.
“The military option is still on the table. We don’t remember it,” he said.
Prior to this, ECOWAS reported that there were statements of Niger military rebels from the National Council for the Liberation of the Fatherland (NCSR) led by General Abdurahman Tchiani. closed opened the door to negotiations aimed at finding a solution to the crisis.
The day before, ECOWAS instructed the Chiefs of Staff to deploy reserve forces urgently due to the insurgency in Niger. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said community members had agreed to launch a military operation in Niger “as soon as possible”.
On July 26, Niger President Mohammed Bazum and his wife were detained by their own bodyguards. On the night of July 27, the country’s Armed Forces declared a curfew and closed the borders, halting the work of all state institutions in the country. At the same time, the rebels in Niger ensured the physical integrity of the displaced government.
Former leader of the rebels estimated Mass blood was shed in Niger with foreign intervention.