The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Governments decided to send a standby force to Niger as part of its decisions during its meeting in Abuja.
The military juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali have stated that they will consider any attempt to forcibly reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum in neighboring Niger as an act of war.
This comes after a regional alliance threatened to “take all steps” to reinstall the president if necessary.
However, the Authority of Heads of State and Governments ECOWAS gave the directive to the President of the Commission at an Extraordinary Session in Abuja, Nigeria on 10th August 2023.
In response to what ECOWAS sees as the illegal abduction of President Mohamed BAZOUM by members of the Presidential Guard in the Republic of Niger on July 26, 2023, the Extraordinary Summit was called as a follow-up to the most recent one held on July 30, 2023.
The Authority’s statement reiterates its vehement opposition to the attempted coup d’état and the ongoing illegal detention of President Mohammed Bazoam, his family, and officials from his administration.
It subsequently “Direct the President of the Commission to monitor the implementation of the sanctions.
“Direct the Committee of the Chiefs of Defence Staff to activate the ECOWAS Standby Force with all its elements immediately; Order the deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger,” the Authority stated.
Meanwhile, a former Tuareg insurgent-turned-tourism minister in Niger, Rhissa Ag Boula says his new political party will aim to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
“It’s about restoring constitutional equality. We are trying to mobilise people in Niger and to mobilise regional organisations and get them to help us restore the president to power,” Rhissa Ag Boula told BBC.
