ECOWAS activates standby force in preparation for potential intervention in Niger coup

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which is made up of 15 different countries, announced on Thursday that it has made the decision to activate its standby force in reaction to the recent coup in Niger. At the same time, it emphasised its continuous commitment to restoring constitutional order in the nation by peaceful means.

In a statement released at the conclusion of a summit that took place in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, the regional bloc reaffirms its vehement condemnation of the coup that took place in Niger. The statement also affirms that it respects all of the measures and principles that were agreed upon by the urgent ECOWAS summit that took place on July 30.

The presidents of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued a statement in which they “command the (ECOWAS) committee of the Chiefs of Defence Staff to activate its standby force with all its elements immediately.” The statement also stated that all parties involved should be prepared for the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force in order to restore constitutional order in Niger.

However, the regional bloc did not disclose any specifics regarding the force that will be deployed or the schedule for actions to be taken against the military leaders who took control of Niger fourteen days ago.

Additionally, the bloc declared that it would implement all punishment measures, including the shutting down of borders and the imposition of stringent travel bans, against any individuals or organisations whose actions impede peaceful efforts to restore constitutional order in Niger.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stated that all options are currently being considered for the peaceful resolution of the crisis, and it issued a warning to member states not to “directly or indirectly undermine” the peaceful resolution of the conflict.
The West African group decided to mobilise the regional standby force after the military junta in Niger refused to hand over power to former President Mohamed Bazoum.

During a briefing in Abuja, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, stated that the major purpose of the regional standby force is to restore calm and order while also facilitating the return to constitutional governance in Niger.

On July 26, the military in Niger detained Bazoum and selected Abdourahamane Tchiani, a former leader of the country’s presidential guard, to lead the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland. This governing body was established by the soldiers after the coup and has been exercising legislative and executive authority ever since. Bazoum was taken into custody by the military.

The unlawful shift of power is seen as a threat to stability and development across the continent by several African countries, which have voiced their disapproval of the coup, which is the third of its sort to take place in West Africa in the past three years. The international world has expressed its concern that unrest in the Sahel region could foster the growth of extremism.

Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo are the member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).