A West African regional bloc’s plan for a possible military intervention in Niger entails a force of 25,000, RFI has reported
Nigeria is willing to contribute more than half of the forces needed to restore constitutional order in neighboring Niger if needed, French radio broadcaster RFI reported on Tuesday, citing a government official.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) gave Niger’s coup-imposed government a seven-day deadline to release detained President Mohamed Bazoum and restore the country’s dissolved institutions following the July 26 coup. It threatened to intervene militarily if Bazoum was not reinstated. However, the deadline passed with no military action taken.
The coup that removed Bazoum, which was staged by the presidential guard, prompted widespread condemnation and sanctions against Niamey from international partners and regional powers, including ECOWAS.
On Friday, West African defense chiefs finalized a plan…
