ECOWAS Commissioner: Decision has been taken on military intervention plan and its date in Niger

WORLD, Aug 18 (YPA) -The West African Community (ECOWAS) announced at the end of its chiefs of forces meetings in the Ghanaian capital Accra that it had agreed on a plan and date for a possible military intervention in Niger, but made it clear that it would not do so. Enter an avoidable battle, Dubai Week reported.

The ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdelfattah Moussa, said in a press conference this evening, Friday, following the meetings of the Chiefs of Staff, “The decision has been taken on the exact day of the military intervention in Niger, but we will not announce it.”

Moussa explained that the Chiefs of Staff have agreed on the need for military intervention in Niger, stressing that countries of the group are ready to act whenever the order is given.

“The military option is not our preferred option, but we are forced to do so because of the instability of the military group in Niger.”

Moussa insisted that ECOWAS “will not engage in an avoidable war” and could withdraw the military option, noting that the group had discussed the potential humanitarian problems of any military intervention in Niger.

The ECOWAS commissioner indicated that if the group intervenes militarily, it will not declare war on Niger, stressing that any intervention is short-term and aimed at restoring constitutional order.

For two days, military leaders discussed ways to return to power Niger’s ousted President Mohamed Bassum, who was ousted in a July 26 coup.

E.M