Troops from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have affirmed their readiness to deploy a standby force for potential intervention in Niger.
Following the recent upheaval triggered by the seizure of power from President Mohamed Bazoum by presidential guards, ECOWAS issued a 7-day ultimatum to the military to restore the president or risk sanctions, including possible military action.
However, Niger junta did not budge and on multiple occasions have maintain it stance to go against ECOWAS
Subsequently, the regional bloc asked Defence Chiefs from the 15-member regional bloc to activate its standby force.
At a meeting in Accra, Ghana capital, on Thursday, the Defence Chiefs said they were prepared to restore civil rule in Niger.
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Al Jazeera reported that all member states, excluding those currently under military rule and Cape Verde, confirmed their commitment to participating in the standby force.
ECOWAS commissioner, Abdel-Fatau Musah, was quoted to have said this.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, was also quoted emphasizing the significance of democracy and stability in the region.
He stated, “Democracy is what we stand for and it’s what we encourage. The focus of our gathering is not simply to react to events, but to proactively chart a course that results in peace and promotes stability.”
Notably, Burkina Faso and Mali, both of which have encountered multiple coups since 2020, cautioned that any military intervention in Niger would be deemed an act of war.