Coup: ECOWAS Begins ‘Activation’ Of Standby Force In Niger

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commenced the move to activate its standby force in Niger Republic to restore constitutional order.

This is coming after a meeting of ECOWAS defence chiefs in Accra, Ghana’s capital.

ECOWAS released a statement on Wednesday to say it commenced the activation of its standby force for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger.

The statement reads, “To this end, the ECOWAS committee of chiefs of defence staff will be having an extraordinary meeting in Accra, Ghana from 17th to 18th August 2023 to finalise plans for the deployment of the standby force.”

Despite defence chiefs calling for dialogue with military coup leaders in Niger, the bloc noted that the plan to go into any military intervention had been worked out and were being refined, including the timing, resources needed and how, where and when to deploy such force.

Naija News recalls that ECOWAS last week mulled the deployment of standby military troops in Niger.

The decision was reached at the end of the second extraordinary summit held to resolve Niger’s political crisis.

The Chairman of ECOWAS, President Bola Tinubu while speaking in the meeting said the bloc’s leaders were mandated to exhaust all avenues of engagement to ensure a swift return to constitutional governance in Niger.

Tinubu said it was necessary for action because the political crisis in Niger not only poses a threat to the stability of the nation but also has far-reaching implications for the entire West African region.

The ECOWAS chairperson assured that the bloc would remain steadfast in its commitment to supporting Niger in the journey towards peaceful democratic stability in the country.

A few days after the bloc’s actions, Niger’s military junta said they were ready to explore diplomatic dialogue after a meeting with Nigeria’s intervention team comprising Islamic scholars.

However, in a fresh twist, the Niger military administration said it would prosecute the “deposed president and his local and foreign accomplices before the competent national and international authorities for high treason and undermining internal and external security”.