Nigerien Coup Update

The African Union supports the restoration to power of the elected government of Niger after the military coup two weeks ago I have been posting about and also supports the efforts of the West African Economic Community of States to restore it through diplomatic pressure, but by force, if necessary. ECOWAS has created a stand-by force from several West African States, but of only 5,000 troops. After snubbing ECOWAS and other international envoys and threatening to kill the deposed Nigerien President it is holding, the military junta is finally expressing a willingness for a diplomatic solution. Such a solution would require a transition to civilian power and elections. As I have posted, Niger is the last State in the Sahel battling Islamist terrorists that is backed by Western States. The United States and France have a combined force of over 2,500 troops in Niger and other Western powers have provided aid. But Like Mali and Burkina Faso, after their elected governments were overthrown in military coups, Niger’s junta intends to turn toward Kremlin-associated Russian mercenaries infamous for atrocities, instead of the West, against the jihadists. Those two States in the Sahel back Niger’s junta against ECOWAS, while Guinea, whose leader also took power by coup, is diplomatically supportive of Niger’s junta. The opposition from these West African States undermine ECOWAS’s efforts. Neighboring Algeria opposes the coup, but also opposes an armed intervention. With the split among Africans and the junta’s threat to the elected President, with the conditions for him and his family worsening, and as the sanctions, travel restrictions and power cutoffs from ECOWAS are causing humanitarian problems for Niger, a diplomatic solution appears urgent and more likely to be successful than a military one.