ECOWAS Sanctions: As troops are deployed, Niger’s military strength comes to the fore

As ECOWAS under the chair of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu prepares for an offensive against the junta in Niger to restore constitutional order, the military strength of the West African country has come under focus.

President Tinubu on Friday sent an executive communication to the Senate to apprise it of the decisions of the regional body contained in the the communiques of the meeting held on the Nigerien situation.

The country’s junta led by Abdourahamane Tchiani had about a week ago overthrown the democratically-elected government of Mohamed Bazoum and held him captive in the country’s Presidential Palace.

The junta has refused to comply with the resolutions by ECOWAS and the African Union to restore constitutional order, thus raising the specter of military possible hostilities to compel restoration of constitutional order in the country.

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The question is does Niger Republic have the military strength to repel ECOWAS forces and others if there are incursions into its territory? Let the facts of its military might speak out:

Niger Repubic’s military strength as of 2023 (per globalfirepower.com)

● For 2023, Niger is ranked 119 of 145 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review.

● The nation holds a PwrIndx score of 2.6327 (a score of 0.0000 is considered ‘perfect’). (PwrIndx: Each nation is assessed on individual and collective values processed through an in-house formul to generate its PwrIndx score. Some values are estimated when official numbers are not available.

· Other assessments are as follows:

1. Purchasing power parity= $28,970,000,000 (128 out of 145 countries)

2. Foreign Exchange/Gold= $1,314,000,000 (117out of 145 countries)

3. Defence Budget = $287,280,000 (114 out of 145 countries)

4. External Debt= $4,000,000,000 (19 out of 145 countries)

5. Square Land Area -=1,267,000kms (21 out of 145 countries)

6. Coastline Coverage= Landlocked (99 out of 145 countries}

7. Shared Borders= 5,834kms (107 out of 145 countries)

8. Waterways (Usable) = 300kms (83 out of 145 countries)=

9. Total Population = 24,484, 587 (56 out of 145 countries)

10. Available Manpower= 7,345,376 (30%) (65 out of 145 countries)

11. Fit-for-Service = 4,921,402 (20.1%) (66 0ver 145)

12. Reaching Mil Age Annually= 416,238 (66/145)

13. Total Mil Personnel (est) = 13,000 (est)

14. Active Personnel = 10,000 (0.0%) (98/145)

15. Reserve Personnel =0 (0.0%) (145/145)

16. Paramilitary = 3,000 (0.0%) (57/145)

17. Air Force Personnel = 350 (71/145)

18. Army Personnel = 8,500 (66/145)

19. Navy Personnel = 0 (145/145)

20. Aircraft =16 (102/145)

21. Fighters =0 (0.0%) (145/145)

22. Transport (fixed wing) = 5 (47/145)

23. Trainers = 0 (0.0%) (145/145)

24. Special Mission =Stock- 2 (12.56%) (31/145)

25. Tanker Fleet = 0 (145/145)

26. Helicopters = 7 (43.8%) (82/145)

27. Attack Helicopters = 1 (6.36%) = (45/145)

28. Tanks = 0 (145/145)

29. Vehicles = 728 (133/145)

30. Self-Propelled Artillery = 0 (145/145)

31. Towed Artillery =0 (145/145)

32. MLRS (Rocket Artillery) = ) (145/145)

33. Waterways (Usable) = 300kms (83 out of 145 countrie)