Efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to reinstate a democratic government in the Republic of Niger have received a substantial boost. The military forces of ten out of the fifteen member states have pledged their support to this endeavor, offering their readiness to contribute to a standby force if the situation demands.
This united stance was articulated during a gathering of the ten countries in Ghana on Thursday. These nations are primed to engage in a standby force, a critical contingency measure endorsed by the ECOWAS Heads of Government during a recent emergency summit. The Defence Chiefs have been tasked with initiating the activation of this standby force.
The urgency stems from the abrupt ousting of democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, orchestrated by a military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani.
Exceptionally, all member states apart from those currently under military rule and Cape Verde have committed to participating in the standby force, as confirmed by reputable international news agency Reuters.
Addressing the commitment of the West African military coalition, ECOWAS Commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah emphasized, “Let no one be in doubt, if everything else fails, the valiant forces of West Africa…are ready to answer to the call of duty.”
“By all means available, constitutional order will be restored in the country,” stall ECOWAS deployments in Gambia, and Liberia as examples of readiness.
Al Jazeera alos 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.”
It’s unclear when or where the force will deploy and which countries from the 15-member bloc would contribute to it. Conflict experts say it would likely comprise some 5,000 troops led by Nigeria and could be ready within weeks.
The presidential guards seized power from President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, making the ECOWAS to issue a one-week ultimatum to the military to restore the president or risk sanctions.
The military ignored the ECOWAS threats and vowed to resist foreign intervention.