The West African regional bloc ECOWAS has decided to activate its standby force to possibly engage in a military intervention in Niger.
The ECOWAS leaders took the decision on Thursday after an emergency summit to deliberate on proposals from ECOWAS defence chiefs.
The military junta that took power in Niger last month has refused to engage envoys from ECOWAS, AU and UN for a resolution of current political crisis.
ECOWAS leaders insist the coup leaders must restore civilian rule and bring back to power the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
“No option is taken off the table, including the use of force as a last resort,” Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the ECOWAS chair said on Thursday.
“I hope that through our collective effort we can bring about a peaceful resolution as a roadmap to restoring stability and democracy in Niger,” he said. “All is not lost yet.”
This week neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, also ruled by military juntas, asked the U.N. Security Council in a letter to prevent any armed action against Niger.
The two countries said such a move threatened by ECOWAS would have “unpredictable” consequences and lead to the break-up of ECOWAS.
“The Transitional Governments of Burkina Faso and the Republic of Mali appeal to the primary responsibility of the Security Council… to use all means at its disposal to prevent armed action against a sovereign state,” the letter signed by both countries’ foreign ministers and posted on X (Twitter) by the Malian foreign ministry read.
But an official communique read out after the Thursday ECOWAS summit ordered the bloc’s defence chiefs to “activate the ECOWAS Standby Force with all its elements immediately”.
ECOWAS has ordered military action against Niger’s military regime to restore constitutional order.
ECOWAS stands for the Economic Community of West African States.
Source: Vanguard Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/5ZFPQ2wZPp
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There are no details of how the forces would be assembled, when they would deploy and which countries would contribute forces.
But some countries including, Nigeria, Benin and Senegal have already said they would contribute troops.
It could take weeks to assemble the troops and ECOWAS leaders hope there would still be room for negotiations.
Meanwhile the military regime has formed a government, headed by Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, who was appointed on Monday. The new government comprises 20 ministers.
Niger coup leaders refuse to meet ECOWAS-AU-UN mediation team
Source: Africafeeds.com
