Asks Abubakar Hashim
Thursday, October 26, just 4 days away, will mark exactly 100 days since the July 26 coup in Niger.
ECOWAS, then, promptly issued a 1 week ultimatum for a quick reversal of the Col Abdulrahman Tiana-led coup, or Niger faced severe sanctions and ultimate military intervention.
The region’s Chiefs of Defence Staff CDS, were summoned and military strategies were activated.
Since then, series of formal and informal diplomatic missions to Niger occurred.
But almost 100 days after the coup, it appears ECOWAS and the international community have lost out.
Though the sanctions are currently bitting hard on Nigeriens, the military coupists remain adamant.
ECOWAS has seemingly shelved military intervention off the table, due to widespread condemnation of its apparent catastrophic consequences, not only on Niger, but its neighbours.
ECOWAS Chairman, Bola Tinubu is also currently enmeshed in pressing and burning domestic challenges, including an unimaginable depletion of the country’s foreign reserves, growing insecurity, stagflation, and explosive rise in population not commensurate with the GDP.
The Naira is now on a free fall, plummeting daily against the USD. The same scenario with other West African countries.
The Col Abdulraman Tiani- led military junta remains hardened and has gained momentum by a tripartite support from Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, all three being ruled by military governments. The people in Niger are also supportive to the military governments in power.
Deposed civilian President, Mohamed Bazoum, attempted an escape from detention few days ago, but the commando-like operation was foiled by the junta.
It now appears the military junta is calling the shots. ECOWAS is now boxed in a tight cubicle. The threats by ECOWAS on the junta is fast waning.
Russia is now the new bedfellow.
This was bolstered by the a surprised nuclear agreement by Russia with Burkina Faso for electricity supply. Soon, other military juntas in Wesr Africa, including Niger, will follow suit.
The question now, is whether ECOWAS has lost out in Niger?