ECOWAS Deadline and Military Capabilities
Introduction
With the deadline set by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the coup leaders in Niger to reinstate President Mohamed Bazum in office, many are wondering what it is and its military capabilities.
ECOWAS Deadline
Last Sunday, the regional organization gave the putschists seven days to reinstate Muhammad Bazum as president, who was overthrown on July 26 under pain of using “force.” Heavy fines were imposed on Niamey.
The group’s military leaders met in the Nigerian capital of Abuja to discuss ways to deal with the latest coup in the African Sahel region.
“At this meeting, all the elements of a possible intervention were determined, including the necessary resources, as well as how and when we will deploy forces,” said Abdel-Fattah Moussa, political and security commissioner of the regional organization.
Moussa also continued: “ECOWAS will not inform the putschists when and where we will strike,” adding that it was “an operational decision to be made by the heads of state” of the bloc.
An ECOWAS delegation led by former Nigerian President Abdessalam Abubakar arrived in the capital, Niamey on Thursday, but left late at night without meeting General Abdirahman Tian, head of the National Defense Council, or ousted President Bazum.
The former head of the Niger Presidential Guard, General Abderrahman Tiané, took over as head of the military council on July 26, and President-elect Mohamed Bazum is still in custody.
ECOWAS Name
The name “ECOWAS” is called the Economic Community of West African States, and in French it is called “Sediao”, and is a bloc that includes 15 countries: Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Benin and Cape Verde.
There is no consensus in the group on the coup in Niger. Mali and Burkina Faso issued a joint statement in which any military intervention against Niger is considered a “declaration of war” on these two countries, and refused, together with Guinea, to participate in the application of sanctions against Niamey.
The military council is also financially backed by Burkina Faso, Niger’s two neighboring countries, which have been ruled by the military since two coups in 2020 and 2022.
The two countries whose membership in the ECOWAS bodies was suspended said that any armed intervention in Niger would be considered a “declaration of war” on them and would lead to their withdrawal from the economic community.
Neighboring Chad, an important military power, has announced that it will not participate in any military intervention. Defense Minister Daoud Yaya Ibrahim said: “Chad will never intervene militarily. We have always advocated dialogue. Chad is the mediator.” Please note that Chad is not a member of ECOWAS.
And in Benin, which borders Niger, Foreign Minister Olchigun Ajade Bakari stressed that diplomacy remains “the preferred solution” but said his country would follow ECOWAS’ lead if it decided to intervene.
Military Capabilities
The military capabilities of the armies of countries in the economic group differ. Any military intervention by ECOWAS will largely depend on Nigeria due to its large human and military potential, since its army consists of 223 thousand people, in addition to possessing modern aircraft and fighters.
Nigeria also shares a 1,600 km border with Niger.
As for the Senegalese army, it has 17,000 fighters and ranks 125th in the world. Senegalese Foreign Minister Aissata Tal Sall confirmed that her country will participate in military intervention.
Although Benin is one of Niger’s southern neighbors, it has an army of 5,000 and ranks 144th in the world.
