As the ECOWAS meeting to plan a military intervention in Niger is set for August 17 and 18, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) has distanced itself from the use of force for a return to constitutional order in the country.
The potential armed intervention in Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is facing obstacles due to divisions arising among African countries regarding the approach to adopt. According to information reported by “Le Monde,” the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) has declined to align with ECOWAS.
As per the French media, during a meeting held on Monday, August 14, the body responsible for addressing conflict resolution matters decided to reject the use of force in dealing with the Nigerien junta. “This position was expected to be formalized through an official statement on Wednesday,” the media outlet reports. However, the PSC opted to temporarily suspend Niger from all AU activities, as stated by our source.
For now, the heads of the West African bloc’s armed forces will convene on Thursday and Friday in Ghana. This meeting was originally scheduled for the previous Saturday but was postponed due to “technical reasons.” It will now take place one week after the decision by the organization’s leaders to deploy their “standby force” to restore Mohamed Bazoum, the President of Niger who was ousted by a military coup on July 26, to his position.
