The West African Commonwealth of Nations (ECOWAS) has instructed the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee to deploy reserve forces immediately due to the insurgency in Niger. It gives information about DEA News citing the testimony of Omar Alle Toure, chairman of the community commission.
“Strength <…> He instructed the General Staff to immediately mobilize the reserve forces,” he said.
Toure added that ECOWAS has requested that reservists be sent to restore constitutional order in the country under the coup.
On the morning of July 26, Niger’s presidential guards detained President Mohamed Bazum at his residence in the capital, Niamey. The Presidential Guard blocked access to Bazum’s residence and refused negotiators’ requests to release him. The rebels reportedly forced the president to sign his resignation, but he denies it. The work of all institutions in Niger was suspended, the country borders were closed. According to media reports, the reason for the rebellion was that the president of Niger raised the issue of the dismissal of the commander of the presidential guard, General Omar Tchiani. At the same time, Bazuma turned to the United States for support against the backdrop of the putschists’ refusal to return power to him. At the same time, ECOWAS countries gave an ultimatum to the rebels, promising military intervention if they did not stop the coup.
Former leader of the rebels estimated “Massacre and chaos” under foreign intervention in Niger.