ECOWAS Defence Chiefs Continue Talks On Possible Niger Intervention
Written by Teniola Akerele on August 18, 2023
West African defence chiefs are currently holding a second day of talks in Ghana on possible armed intervention to restore civil rule in the Niger Republic should diplomatic efforts to reverse a coup there fail.
According to Al Jazeera, the defence chiefs are expected to announce any next steps at a closing ceremony at 4pm.
Troops of the Economic Community of West African States a day earlier pledged readiness to participate in a standby force that would restore democracy in Niger after generals toppled and detained President Mohamed Bazoum.
All member states, except those under military rule and Cape Verde, agreed at a meeting in Accra, Ghana’s capital, on Thursday to activate a “standby force” as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger.
ECOWAS defence chiefs are having a two-day meeting in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, to fine-tune details of a potential military operation to restore Bazoum if continuing negotiations with coup leaders fail.
