Nigeriens Brace for War as Coup Fallout Escalates
Nigeriens are calling for the mass recruitment of volunteers to assist the army in the face of a possible invasion by the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, which has activated a "standby force" to restore order in Niger after the junta ignored a deadline to reinstate and release the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum. The recruitment drive aims to register tens of thousands of volunteers to fight, provide medical care, and offer technical and engineering logistics. Regional tensions are escalating, and a military intervention could trigger a regional war with devastating consequences. France and the United States have suspended military operations in the region, and jihadi attacks are increasing. The longer the crisis drags on, the less likely an intervention becomes, forcing the international community to accept the junta's grip on power. A diplomatic solution is still possible, and the United States supports ECOWAS' dialogue efforts.