West African countries put their military on alert in response to the Niger coup, while Russia cautions against intervention

Russia issued a warning against any intervention and said that it would result in “protracted confrontation” as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) placed armed forces on alert for an intervention in Niger against the country’s military authorities.

General Abdourahmane Tchiani became the nation’s leader when President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by the military late last month.

For the restoration of democracy in Niger, the ECOWAS gave the military a deadline that expired last Sunday. A force was placed on standby by the bloc after the expiry. The bloc declares that although a military intervention is a possibility, it is also open to a diplomatic resolution. The stakes have also been elevated by mobilization under the standby order.

Al Qaeda and ISIS affiliates are active in the jihadist movement and insurgency that plagues the Sahel area, where Niger is situated. Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are just a few of the nations that have been severely impacted by terrorist violence.

ECOWAS deploys its armed forces.
According to a statement by Omar Alieu Touray, President, ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS convened in Nigeria’s Abuja on Thursday and asked for the deployment of a military force of the bloc “to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger” after the deadline to the Niger’s military expired.

It wasn’t immediately obvious what kind of force will be used or when a military operation may occur.

The group emphasized “determination to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis” while mobilizing for a future military action, according to CNN.

“ECOWAS leaders have said that they would only send in soldiers as a last option and want to find a diplomatic solution to the problem…Assembling the ECOWAS forces takes time, some experts told CNN that a military action in Niger was probably not near.It took ECOWAS seven weeks to deploy to Gambia in 2017, a less challenging deployment than one to Niger, according to another expert, according to CNN.

The group is also divided within since three of its members have historically supported Niger and have had military governments in recent years. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea are those nations, and Guinea has also declared its support for the junta in Niger.

“Soldiers who took control of Mali and Burkina Faso have pledged their support for the junta in Niger and issued a warning that any military action would be seen as a declaration of war. CNN said that Guinea has also reportedly backed Niger.

Russia issues a caution against using force.
Russia has cautioned ECOWAS against using military force to reestablish democracy in Niger. It does not, however, officially back the coup.

Russia warned ECOWAS of a “protracted confrontation” that would destabilize the whole Sahel area after it said it was placing a force on alert.

Russia has been hostile to the notion of involvement even before the standby force statement.

“Alexey Zaitsev, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, voiced Moscow’s ‘hope that the decision would be reached within the context of a diplomatic solution’. And, according to Newsweek, Putin repeated Russia’s “negative attitude to any forceful methods.”

In recent days, pro-coup demonstrators in Niger have flown Russian flags in opposition to France, the nation’s former colonial power. From military installations in Niger, France and the United States fight extremists in the area.

According to the BBC, “coup sympathizers demonstrated on Friday outside a French military installation close to the capital Niamey, some carrying Russian flags and yelling, “Down with France, down with ECOWAS.”

According to a report, while there is no proof that Russia or the Wagner Group, which has been operating in Africa for years, were involved in the coup, they may attempt to take advantage of the new circumstances. This is also evident in the appearance of pro-Russian protesters in Niger.

There are no signs, according to U.S. officials, that Russia or its top private military contractor, the Wagner Group, were involved in the unrest in Niger. They also claim that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group, and the Kremlin may be looking to profit from the upheaval, according to Newsweek.

A top Niger official reportedly asked Russia for assistance after the coup, according to another story.

During trips to nearby Burkina Faso and Mali, the deputy CNSP head of Niger reportedly asked the Wagner Group for assistance. Yevgeny Prigozhin, CEO of the Wagner Group, too praised the military’s capture of Niger.