ECOWAS: Niger Coup Leaders determines to Resist External Pressure

In spite of sanctions from ECOWAS and a halt to aid from Western allies, the leaders of the Niger coup declared on Tuesday that they were determined to fend off calls from abroad to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

Because of its strategic importance to the United States, Europe, China, and Russia as well as its role in battling Islamist militants, Niger is more significant than it has ever been.

In order to negotiate with the coup leaders prior to a summit that might decide on military intervention, West African nations and major world powers are looking for a chance to do so.

While acting deputy secretary of state Victoria Nuland spoke with junta officials in Niamey, secretary of the United State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of diplomacy.

In light of its own credibility and prior declarations that coups would not be tolerated, the 15-nation ECOWAS bloc has taken a more aggressive stance against this coup.

Discussions about potential military action have taken place, but risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft believes that an intervention is unlikely given the possibility of further destabilization.

In a note, its Africa analyst Ben Hunter stated, “The bloc understands that a military intervention would be very costly, with no guarantee of success over the long term, and with a significant risk of escalation into a regional war.

“It is fundamentally not in the interests of regional states.”