Nigeria spearheads the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervention in the ongoing coup turmoil in Niger after the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum. With a firm stance on possible military involvement, ECOWAS Chairman President Bola Tinubu and regional leaders convene on August 10, 2023, to decide on restoring Bazoum’s leadership through diplomacy or force.
As this pivotal decision approaches, it’s vital to recall Nigeria’s past intervention during a similar crisis. The Nigerian military has a history of leading the ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) to restore peace and democracy in West African nations facing rebel uprisings and coups.
However, the last time Nigerian troops were deployed for military intervention was in 1997 in Sierra Leone, responding to Major Johnny Paul Koroma’s coup against President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah’s elected government.
In a bid to reinstate democracy, ECOWAS dispatched ECOMOG forces, primarily composed of Nigerian troops, to engage the rebel factions in Sierra Leone.
While the mission achieved its goal by March 1998, allegations of human rights violations surfaced post-intervention. Accusations included Nigeria’s intervention lacking official regional backing and the alleged shelling of civilian sites.
Amidst the controversy, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister at the time, Tom Ikimi, firmly defended the action. He emphasized ECOWAS’ commitment to averting crises that imperil civilian lives and peace in the region, asserting that Nigeria acted as part of ECOMOG rather than a unilateral entity.
The impending ECOWAS decision concerning Niger’s coup crisis is reminiscent of Nigeria’s past role in Sierra Leone—a delicate balance between intervention, regional support, and the pursuit of stability.