ECOWAS Defence Chiefs Continue Discussion On Possible Niger Attack

Defence chiefs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are currently holding a second day of talks in Ghana on possible armed intervention in Niger.

The defence chiefs aim to restore civil rule in the Niger Republic should diplomatic efforts to reverse a coup there fail.

According to Al Jazeera, the defence chiefs are expected to announce any next steps at a closing ceremony at 4 p.m.

Naija News had earlier reported that troops of the ECOWAS expressed their readiness to participate in a standby force that would restore democracy in Niger after generals toppled and detained President Mohamed Bazoum.

All member states, except those under military rule and Cape Verde, agreed at a meeting in Accra, Ghana’s capital, on Thursday to activate a “standby force” as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger.

ECOWAS commissioner, Abdel-Fatau Musah, confirmed this stance to Al Jazeera.

The medium further quoted Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, to have said, “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 promote stability.”

ECOWAS defence chiefs are having a two-day meeting in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, to fine-tune details of a potential military operation to restore Bazoum if continuing negotiations with coup leaders fail.