The Research Director for Africa Programme at Chatham House, Dr Alex Vines believes that the junta in Niger is already feeling the pressure to return the country to constitutional rule following the placement of sanctions on the country. 

Speaking on PM Express on JoyNews, he stated that Niger has not only been facing sanctions from ECOWAS but the West has also the suspended aid, and financial assistance until further notice.

“My view is that the junta is feeling the pressure. Last week, it [the junta] already said that it was now preparing for a short transition process pending elections. So that's still ill-defined. What is the transition? How long will it be? And is it guaranteed that the men in uniforms won't have anything to do with the elections?”

“Then the other thing showing the fear of the junta, in my opinion, is the closure of airspace. It surprised everybody, including international airliners, flights to the United Kingdom got disrupted and had to fly around Niger. They were delayed into London or into the destinations they were going. So everybody was caught by surprise by that,” he added.

Dr Vines believes that this decision taken by the military is an indication that the junta fears ECOWAS and what the emergency summit on Thursday is going to come up with. 

This comes after the week’s deadline West African leaders in ECOWAS gave Niger to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum or face military action passed.

The ultimatum came after soldiers in the West African country of Niger announced a coup on national TV, on July 27.

They said they had dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions and closed the nation’s borders.

But after the deadline, the military junta in Niger is still yet to hand over power to the ousted president or begin a process of leading the country back to constitutional rule.

ECOWAS is set to meet on Thursday in Abuja to discuss the way forward.

Meanwhile, Dr Vines hopes that there will be no need for an intervention and that some sort of diplomatic solution are brought forth to resolve the conflict.

Also on the show, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security at ECOWAS has said that the regional bloc will only employ a military intervention as a last resort in its aim to restore constitutional rule in Niger.

Ambassador Dr Abdel-Fatau Musah said ECOWAS has an array of interventions for their fight for constitutional order and will only use military force when all available options do not provide the expected outcome.