The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced its preparedness to deploy a standby force to restore civil rule in Niger Republic if diplomatic efforts to reverse a recent coup in the country prove unsuccessful. The pledge was made during a meeting of Defense Chiefs from ECOWAS member states in Accra, Ghana. All member states except those under military rule and Cape Verde expressed their willingness to participate in the standby force.
Abdel-Fatau Musah, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, stated that the West African forces were ready to restore constitutional order in Niger and would utilize their resources for this purpose. He also indicated that any external assistance from organizations was welcome. The commissioner clarified that the primary objective was to proactively promote peace and stability in the region.
The European Union (EU) has also taken action against the Niger military junta, with EU foreign ministers set to discuss sanctions in response to the coup. The EU had suspended security cooperation and financial aid to Niger, emphasizing its commitment to democratic governance.
Germany’s Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed support for the EU’s stance on sanctions against the junta and discussed the situation with representatives from ECOWAS during a visit to Nigeria. Furthermore, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) bloc in Nigeria backed the actions taken by both the African Union and ECOWAS to restore democracy in Niger.
These developments highlight regional and international efforts to address the political turmoil resulting from the coup in Niger and underscore the importance of upholding democratic principles and stability in the West African region.