Pushing ECOWAS
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Niger’s M-26 movement blames France for pushing ECOWAS towards war as Nigeria’s defence chief sends out warning order
Niger’s radical M-26 movement officially known as “M62: Sacred Union for the Safeguard of the Sovereignty and Dignity of the People” has accused French authorities of seeking to “unleash a war in the country to continue plundering it.”
Movement M-62 called France ‘the only one who wants to wage war in Niger to continue plundering the country and destabilizing Sahel and other countries, such as Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, and Chad in the short-, mid-, and long-term perspective in a bid to take control of the vast natural resources they have in abundance,” Agence Nigerienne de Presse said on Sunday.
“We made it clear that a military aggression project totally initiated by France and imposed on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is the declaration of war on Sahel countries and some states bordering Niger,” the movement said.
The movement made up of fifteen of Niger’s civil society groups was established in 2022, with the purpose of expressing opposition to the French presence in Operation Barkhane, which the group perceives as French occupation of the country.
During the 2023 Nigerien coup d’état against Bazoum, the group marched in support of the coup. In a march at the request of Abdourahmane Tchiani, thousands of pro-coup Nigeriens gathered in Niamey’s Concertation Square, in front of the National Assembly, and went to the French embassy carrying Nigerien and Russian flags, with slogans such as “Down with France, out with Barkhane, we don’t care about ECOWAS, the European Union and the African Union!”, “Arrest the former dignitaries to return the stolen millions”, and “Down with France, long live Putin.”
Meanwhile military build up continues. Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) sent out a Warning Order (WO) directing the service chiefs to compile and submit war requirements such as the number of personnel, equipment, logistics and financial costs to Defence Headquarters (DHQ). The Nigerian Punch revealed on Sunday.
In a leaked memo seen by Felastory, Nigeria intends to raise two battalions of infantry, armour, artillery and logistic troops for its invasion of Niger. A battalion is a military unit typically consisting of 300 to 1,000 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain).
But a military source close to DHQ said the maximum number will be about 25,000 effectively a division with contributions from Senegal, Ivory Coast and Benin Republic. A division comprises several brigades or regiments and commanded by a general officer.
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 the organization, to release Bazoum and warned about a military resolution of the situation if he is not released.
Akowe with reports from Abuja
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