In an effort to have better bargaining to the ECOWAS proposed military intervention to restore the outed President, Mohammed Bazoum, Niger Military leaders have declared a “No Fly Zone,” thus a total closure of Niger’s airspace.
Speaking on national television, Amadou Abdramane, stated that, ECOWAS has pre-deployed troops to the Central Africa Republic, as they plan to undertake their so called military intervention.
“In the face of the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighboring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed from this day on Sunday for all aircraft until further notice. Niger’s armed forces and all our defense and security forces, backed by the unfailing support of our people, are ready to defend the integrity of our territory.”
Amadou Abdramane, Spokesman for CNSP.
As a show of support to the military juntas, throngs of people converged to a 30,000-seater stadium in Niamey, bearing pictures of the nation’s military commanders, and mocking the erstwhile colonial ruler France.
Addressing the gathered supporters in the stadium, General Mohamed Toumba, a CNSP leader, criticized individuals “lurking in the shadows” and have been “plotting subversion” against “the forward march of Niger.”
With growing anti-western democratic sentiments in Africa, the July 26 military takeover in Niamey, happens to be the sixth Coup D’état in the Western and the Central part of Africa, in three years.
As response to the coup in Niamey, the Economic Community of West African States imposed harsh economic sanctions on Niger, freezing its asserts and the cut off of electricity supply by its neighboring Nigeria.
However, in the event that, the ousted President, Mohammed Bazoum, is not freed and reinstated to power by Sunday, ECOWAS Joint Chiefs of Defense proposed a military intervention to restore order in Niger. Though, the deadline has elapse, ECOWAS is yet to decide its next line of action.
According to media sources on the grounds, the Army’s move to declare a “no fly zone” in Niger, amounts to an outright disregard to the conditions laid down by ECOWAS. The coup leaders in Niger, have decided not to back down softly.
“All eyes are now on ECOWAS’s next move. The bloc has said since the crisis began that all avenues will be explored and that any kind of military intervention would only be used as a last resort.
“There are fears about this potentially widening into a regional conflict and people are also very nervous about armed groups like ISIS, al-Qaeda taking advantage of any further chaos in the region.”
Source.
According to retired colonel Festus Aboagye, the success of the ECOWAS proposed military intervention to restore order in Niamey, highly depends on Nigeria’s willingness to commit its forces to the frontlines.
“The political timelines would be completely different from the military timelines. So what the politicians have stated, that is the ultimatum that lapses today, is not necessarily the D-Day or the day that the military initiates hostilities.
“In West Africa, Nigeria is everything. And it dates back to ECOWAS interventions in Liberia and Sierra Leone, under the banner of Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). Nigeria is a key player. It is a regional or sub-regional engine. But its Senate has not approved the request from the president of Nigeria for it to intervene in Niger.”
Retired Colonel Festus Aboagye.
Regarding intervention, the wider global community also seems to be polarized. Some Africa countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Algeria have resisted and condemned the proposed intervention by the ECOWAS.
On the other hand, France and US said, they second ECOWAS plan to intervene militarily, but Moscow however, has urged the bloc to opt for a broader consultation to resolve the problems.
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