How Nigerian military is preparing for ECOWAS operation storm Niger

DUBAI – The Nigerian Defense Headquarters has begun to prepare for a possible mobilisation for a military operation against rebels in Niger under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Nigeria’s Punch newspaper reported.

According to the newspaper, Nigeria’s army command has ordered commanders of units to inform the Defense Headquarters about their personnel, equipment, logistics and financial spending.

 The newspaper noted that this indicates a preliminary stage in the process of preparing an intervention in Niger.

The Punch said, cited some documents, that Nigeria will need around two battalions from 300 to 1,000 soldiers to take part in a military operation against the rebels in Niger.

At the same time, a military source told the newspaper that to launch a military operation in Niger, ten times as many troops as the enemy’s will be needed.

In late July, a group of military rebels in Niger announced the removal of Bazoum. They then established the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie, CNSP), headed by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, to run the country. Bazoum remains detained at his residence.

ECOWAS leaders demanded the rebels in Niger, which is a member of this organization, release Bazoum and warmed about a military resolution of the situation if he is not released. Apart from that, the ECOWAS imposed tough sanctions on Niger.

Since the ECOWAS ultimatum was not implemented the organization’s leaders gathered for another emergency meeting in the Nigerian capital city of Abuja on August 10 to express their commitment to the restoration of the constitutional order in Niger. Upon return from the summit, Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara said that the ECOWAS leaders had agreed to launch a military operation in Niger as soon as possible.

Following ECOWAS’ statements on its plans of an intervention in Niger, the military council established by Niger’s rebels put the country’s army on high alert. However, according to the Qatari Al Jazeera television channel, the ECOWAS parliament is failing to reach an accord on deploying troops to Niger.TASS