Senegal has confirmed that it will send troops to intervene militarily in Niger, if asked by the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
A military junta seized power in Niger last month. This saw the country suspended by ECOWAS and sanctions imposed. The regional bloc also said that if the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, wasn’t restored by 6 August it would intervene militarily.
The Senegalese foreign minister, Aissata Tall Sall, said that it was ‘one coup too many’. Since 2020 Niger is the fourth country in the region to have its democratically elected leadership overthrown in a coup. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea are the others.
There are fears that military intervention could lead to a broader regional conflict with Mali and Burkina Faso both saying that any military action in Niger would also be considered an attack on those countries.
The region has become more instable in recent years with jihadists and the Russian-linked mercenary organisation, the Wagner Group, all contributing to the growing chaos.