Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS ) defence chiefs will on Thursday meet in Ghana to discuss the deployment of a standby force in Niger Republic to restore constitutional rule. The defence Chiefs had on 3 August met in Abuja to discuss on the situation in the West African country. Shortly after their meeting,Heads
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS ) defence chiefs will on Thursday meet in Ghana to discuss the deployment of a standby force in Niger Republic to restore constitutional rule.
The defence Chiefs had on 3 August met in Abuja to discuss on the situation in the West African country.
Shortly after their meeting,Heads of state of the sub-regional bloc last Thursday met and ordered the activation and deployment of a standby force to Niger Republic if dialogue with the military leaders fail.
A statement by the ECOWAS Commission, said the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDC) has commenced the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force for the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
Already,the defence chiefs will meet in Accra, Ghana for two days (Thursday and Friday) to finalise plans for the deployment of the Standby Force.
Presidential guards led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani on 26 July 2023 arrested Niger’s president, Mr. Mohamed Bazoum and dissolved the constitution.
Responding to the coup, ECOWAS convened an emergency meeting where it imposed economic sanctions on Niger including a seven days ultimatum to the putschists to reinstate the ousted president.
But the coup leaders defied ECOWAS and formed a new government on the eve of the second emergency meeting convened by ECOWAS.
Last Saturday, a Nigerian intervention team of Islamic scholars met with the junta leaders to discuss resolutions after which the junta leader agreed to dialogue with ECOWAS.
Before then, the Chairman of the sub – regional body, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had despatched former Nigerian Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the Sultan of Sokoto Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar to meet with the junta leader an offer they declined.
