Efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to reinstate democratic governance in the Republic of Niger have garnered the endorsement of the military forces from 10 out of its 15 member states. This significant backing materialized during a meeting held on Thursday in Ghana, where the 10 nations expressed their preparedness to contribute to a standby force, if necessitated.
In response to the forceful ousting of democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 by a military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the recent emergency summit of ECOWAS Heads of Government directed Defence Chiefs to activate a standby force. This decision reflects the regional body’s commitment to restoring democratic norms and order.
Remarkably, all member states apart from those currently under military rule and Cape Verde have pledged their involvement in this standby force initiative, as reported by international news agency Reuters. ECOWAS Commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah asserted, “Let no one be in doubt: if everything else fails, the valiant forces of West Africa are prepared to answer 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.