The Defence Chiefs of the 15 countries under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have expressed their readiness to be part of the standby force that could restore democratic rule in the Niger Republic.
Following the military coup orchestrated by the Presidential Guards in the Niger Republic and the seizure of power from President Mohamed Bazoum, the West African bloc issued a seven-day ultimatum to the military junta to restore power or risk sanctions, including the use of force.
According to Aljazeera, the Niger military junta, however, rejected the ECOWAS’s ultimatum and promised to oppose any international intervention.
In response, the ECOWAS requested that its standby force be activated by the defense chiefs of its member states to make sure that democracy was restored in the nation.
During their convened gathering in Accra, the capital of Ghana, on Thursday, August 17, the Chiefs of Defence affirmed their preparedness to reinstate civilian governance in neighboring Niger.
As outlined in the report, all member states, with the exception of those currently under military rule and Cape Verde, have committed to joining the standby force.
Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS commissioner, was noted as making remarks in response.
Furthermore, the report featured a statement from General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, articulating their stance against the individuals orchestrating the coup.
He conveyed: “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.”