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.

Speaking on PM Express on JoyNews, 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 does not provide the expected outcome.

He explained that among them, sanctions put in place includes cutting electricity in parts of Niger, deployment of missions and mediations adding that a team from ECOWAS, UN and African Union are expected in Niger for more diplomatic work.

“So we are going to review the diplomatic efforts that have been deployed up till this point to see where we need to strengthen our approach. And as I said, we had an array of tools in the meantime, sanctions have started biting in the country. Prices have shot up overnight and there is a lot of pressure on the junta to yield,” Dr Musah noted.

He added that if ECOWAS must use the military to intervene it will not be announced or expected.

“The deadline passed and many people thought ECOWAS must be intervening right now, that is not how the military operates. Because we have to maintain that strategic ambiguity just to keep people guessing as to when, where and how if there is going to be a military option.”

“If we are going to intervene military where and when all those issues are going to be the prerogative of all the Heads of State,” Dr Musah added.

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.

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

Dr Musha stated that “on Thursday, we are going to review how these efforts work so far if they have not, what next? And what is going to be done will be an analysis that the Chiefs of Defence will give their report about the concept of operation for the military intervention in the country, which has never been off the table. But we have said it is going to be the option of last resort.”