APA – Cotonou (Benin) Heads of state of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have decided to use force to reinstate Mohamed Bazoum as the democratically elected president of Niger.
Benin is sharpening its weapons and waiting for the signal to make soldiers available to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Standby Force. The West African regional organisation is maintaining its military option to restore constitutional order in Niger following the coup that toppled President Bazoum on 26 July. In Cotonou, the debate revolves around the role of the National Assembly in this process.
“We are not declaring war on Niger”
The issue has been the subject of debate ever since Benin’s government spokesman declared that the government did not need to refer the matter to the National Assembly in order to send troops to the intervention planned by ECOWAS in Niger. Speaking on public television, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji said that Benin was not going to war with Niger, so there was no need for the head of state to explain this to the National Assembly.
”We are not declaring war on Niger, there will be no war between Benin and Niger. Benin’s constitution states that if we declare war on another country, we will inform the National Assembly, which will debate the matter. That’s not what we’re talking about here,” Mr. Houngbedji explained.
He added that Benin is part of a sub-regional bloc, which does not mean that the people of the community are going to wage war against the people of Niger.
However, the opposition says “it’s a declaration of war”
The 28 MPs from the ‘Les Democrates’ party, who represent the opposition in the National Assembly, are calling on Patrice Talon’s government to respect the constitution. MP Kamel Ouassagari believes that if ECOWAS ever launches an operation against Niger, it would be a declaration of war.
He pointed out that Mali and Burkina Faso had warned that if ECOWAS soldiers attempted to take action against the military in power in Niamey, they would go to war alongside Niger.
“There will be a rivalry with Niger, Mali and Burkina on one side and the ECOWAS states on the other, so that means war. As far as Les Démocrates is concerned, we are simply asking the government to respect the provisions of the Benin constitution, which states in Article 101 that the declaration of war is authorised by the Assembly,” Mr. Ouassagari says.
The opposition MP added that in neighbouring Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu had referred the matter to the Senate, which had not given a favourable response for any intervention by Ecowas in Niger.
Benin’s opposition MPs have come out strongly against any Ecowas intervention in Niger. They called on the government not to involve Benin militarily in what they describe as an adventure.
Members of the ‘Les Democrates’ parliamentary group have already put 19 oral questions with debate to the Beninese government. They are calling on the executive to explain to parliament the likely military intervention to reinstate the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum. Benin’s parliamentary opposition also wants to hear the government’s views on the sanctions imposed on Niger following the 26 July 2023 coup.
More radical positions
During a two-day meeting in Accra, the Ecowas chiefs of staff finalised the plan for military intervention, which should be validated by the West African leaders.
The use of force is becoming more and more likely as the regional bloc’s mediation mission sent to Niamey on Saturday 19 August appears to have failed.
In a speech delivered on Saturday evening, General Abdourahamane Tiani warned the European Union against any aggression against his country, which, according to him, will be no easy task.
The President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, (CNSP) encouraged national stakeholders to dialogue and announced a three-year transition to democratic rule.
RK/ac/fss/as/APA