The African Union, AU, has opposed the use of military force to restore democracy in Niger Republic.
The landlocked country has faced a serious political crisis following the removal of President Mohammed Bazoum last month by a coup detat.
In response, the regional economic body ECOWAS has insisted on the reinstatement of the deposed president, including the use of force as the last resort.
On Wednesday, the Chief of Defense Staff, CoDS of the 15-nation bloc met in Ghana where they reinforced their preparation to invade the country to flush out the General Abdourahamane Tchiani-led military junta if diplomatic efforts failed.
“Democracy is what we stand for and it’s what we encourage. The focus of our gathering is not simply to react to events, but to proactively chart a course that results in peace and promote stability,” Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, who attended the meeting was quoted to have said.
But in its report on Thursday, French daily Le Monde said it had spoken with top officials of AU who said the continental body is opposed to the use of force to evict the coup plotters from government.
Quoting multiple sources, the newspaper said the AU’s Peace and Security Council, the body appointed to decide on conflict resolution issues, rejected the deployment of a foreign military force after a tense meeting on Monday.
The rejection of military invasion, according to security and defence analysts, will further weaken the resolve of ECOWAS to launch a military attack on Niger.
“The clear division among leaders in ECOWAS and AU is a pointer that African leaders are not United on the matter,” one of them said.
Cape Verde has joined other countries in ECOWAS opposed to military invasion to resolve the leadership crisis in Niger, after Mali, Boukina Faso, Guinea juntas said they will not support the use of force.
The military government in those countries have even threatened to join forces with the coupists in Niger against foreign invasion military forces
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