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Live Updates: ECOWAS Chiefs of Staff Meeting on Niger Kicks Off in Ghana

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Earlier this week, the regional bloc announced that the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff would meet in the Ghana capital city of Accra on August... 17.08.2023, Sputnik Africa

2023-08-17T09:45+0200

2023-08-18T10:29+0200

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Chairperson of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (L) interacts with President of ECOWAS Commission Omar Touray (R), during the ECOWAS Head of States and Government extraordinary session in Abuja, on August 10, 2023. - Sputnik Africa

Live Updates: ECOWAS Chiefs of Staff Meeting on Niger Kicks Off in Ghana

09:45 17.08.2023 (Updated: 10:29 18.08.2023)

Earlier this week, the regional bloc announced that the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff would meet in the Ghana capital city of Accra on August 17-18 to discuss the final plan for the deployment of the rapid reaction forces in Niger, where the military seized power at the end of July.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has begun the activation of its rapid reaction forces to restore constitutional order in Niger, media has reported.

It was reported that following the instructions of the ECOWAS Council of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit on the political situation in Niger, held in Abuja on August 10, the Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff activated its rapid reaction forces to restore order in the West African nation.

Following the military takeover in Niger in late July, ECOWAS condemned the coup, imposed sanctions on the country's new leadership and warned that the rebels' refusal to back down will lead to a military intervention by the bloc.

A coup in Niger took place on July 26. President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted and detained by his own guard, led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani. Most Western countries as well as ECOWAS condemned it. In early August, the ECOWAS adopted a plan for a potential military intervention in Niger.

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15:31 17.08.2023

US Weighing Options to Keep Forces in Niger Even If Coup Determination Made, Reports Say

The United States is looking at options to preserve its troops in Niger even if the State Department determines that the military takeover was a coup, media reported on Thursday, citing US officials.

The Pentagon is assessing what authorities it can use to continue to operate in a primarily intelligence gathering role in the country, the report said, noting that the potential determination of the power shift as a "coup" by the Department of State could strip the US military of authorities and funding to cooperate with Nigerien forces.

In case such a determination is made by the State Department, a waiver could be issued to allow certain US military activities to continue, a possibility first introduced by Congress in the 2023 omnibus spending bill, the officials said.

US officials are reportedly concerned that withdrawing forces from Niger could be irreversible and represent a permanent loss of presence in the region deemed crucial to US intelligence gathering efforts.

15:06 17.08.2023

Germany to Push For EU Sanctions Against Rebels in Niger

Germany wants the EU to impose sanctions on the leaders of last month's military coup in Niger, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“Germany supports the regional efforts to resolve the crisis in Niger. Our goal is to restore the constitutional order," the foreign ministry said, adding: "After suspending development and security cooperation, we now want to launch sanctions in the EU against the putschists."

It was noted that Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had spoken on the phone in recent days about Niger with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and African Union Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat.

14:13 17.08.2023

ECOWAS Reveals Which Member States Ready to Contribute Troops to Operation in Niger: Media

All members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with the exception of those where the military is in power and Cape Verde, are ready to send military forces to the reserve for a possible intervention in Niger, media has reported.

"All ECOWAS member countries, except those where the military is in power, and Cape Verde, are ready to contribute to the reserve forces that can enter Niger," ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah is quoted as saying at the meeting of ECOWAS chiefs of staff in Ghana.

13:34 17.08.2023

ECOWAS Will Restore Constitutional Order in Niger by All Means Available: High Official

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will restore the constitutional order in Niger using "all available means", said the bloc's Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah at the meeting of ECOWAS chiefs of staff in Ghana.

"The constitutional order in Niger will be restored by all means available," Musah is quoted as saying.

12:28 17.08.2023

ECOWAS Chiefs of Staff Meeting on Niger Kicks Off in Ghana: Reports

A meeting of the chiefs of staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has begun in Ghana's capital, Accra, according to media reports.

The participants are expected to discuss a possible military operation against the rebels who seized power in Niger in late July.

10:25 17.08.2023

Niger Coup Leader Meets With Gabonese Foreign Minister, Reports Say

The leader of the mutineers who seized power in Niger, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, has met with Gabonese Foreign Minister Hermann Immongault in Niamey, Nigerien media has reported.

The minister, who was received at the presidential palace in the Nigerien capital, conveyed to Tchiani a message from Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who is also the current chairman of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Niger News Agency (ANP) reported.

Immongault told the rebels that the goal of ECCAS was to return Niger's military to the barracks, a French broadcaster reported.

09:51 17.08.2023

ECOWAS Chiefs of Staff Meeting in Ghana to Finalize Niger Intervention Plan: Reports

An emergency meeting of the chiefs of staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Ghana from August 17-18 will mainly focus on finalizing the plan for the military intervention in Niger, a French broadcaster reported on Thursday, citing sources.

An unnamed officer of the ECOWAS standby force told the broadcaster that no order had been given to stop the deployment, so the activation of the troops was still in force, despite diplomatic measures taken by the community.

09:30 17.08.2023

At Least 31 Nigerien Civilians Killed in Armed Attacks on August 15, Reports Say

At least 31 civilians were killed in Niger as a result of armed attacks on Nigerien villages on August 15, the ActuNiger news portal reported on Thursday, citing sources.

All the victims were civilians from the northwestern region of Tillaberi, the report said.

09:28 17.08.2023

Paris Remains Vague Over Possible Withdrawal of French Troops From Niger

The French Foreign Ministry, commenting on media reports about the country's troops allegedly being moved from Niger to neighboring Chad, said on Wednesday that the soldiers were still deployed in Niger, but made no remarks regarding their possible withdrawal in the future.

"The French forces, which are present in Niger, are there, just like others, at the request of the country's legitimate authorities, on the basis of agreements signed with the legitimate authorities to help fight against terrorism. We have suspended our military cooperation, as well as civil interaction since the coup. We obviously do not recognize any decisions made by the putschists. We only recognize the decisions of the legitimate Nigerien authorities," the ministry said in a written response to the question of whether the French troops were withdrawn from Niger.

Earlier in August, the Niger coup leaders demanded that the French forces leave the country by early September. Last week, media reported that the commander of the French forces in Niger informed the Nigerien junta's chief of general staff about Paris' intention to move "nearly 40 soldiers" from Niger to Chad.

A total of 1,500 French soldiers are currently deployed in Niger and 1,000 are deployed in Chad after they were forced to withdraw from Burkina Faso and Mali, following the coups in those countries.