West Africa bloc seeks methods to have interaction with Niger junta

Nigerien troopers stand guard as supporters of National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland collect for an illustration in Niamey (AFP)

West Africa’s regional bloc saved up its search on Sunday for diplomatic methods to overturn final month’s coup in Niger, whereas retaining the specter of navy intervention amid a disaster that has sucked in international superpowers.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stated on Saturday that it aimed to ship a parliamentary committee to satisfy the coup leaders, who’ve imprisoned Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum and dissolved the elected authorities, within the seventh coup in West and Central Africa in three years.

While the ECOWAS parliament made no agency choices on Saturday, it arrange a committee that plans to satisfy Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who holds the bloc’s revolving chairmanship, to get his permission to go to Niger, its spokesperson stated.

The coup leaders, headed by General Abdourahamane Tiani, have rebuffed prior diplomatic efforts by ECOWAS, the United States and others, elevating the spectre of additional battle within the impoverished Sahel area of West Africa, which is already coping with a lethal insurgency.

With diplomacy faltering, ECOWAS has activated a standby navy power they are saying shall be deployed as a final resort if talks fail.

At stake is not only the destiny of Niger but additionally the affect of rival international powers with strategic pursuits within the area.

US, French, German and Italian troops are stationed in Niger, in a area the place native associates of al Qaeda and IS have killed hundreds and displaced thousands and thousands.

Meanwhile, Russian affect has grown as insecurity will increase, democracy erodes, and leaders search new companions to revive order.

Western powers worry Russia’s clout may improve if the junta in Niger follows neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, which ejected the troops of former colonial energy France after coups in these international locations.