While promoting 'peaceful option', ECOWAS deploys standby combat force
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The bloc said this measure comes as part of the plan to get militarily involved in Niger to "restore constitutional order."
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A Nigerien soldier with ECOMOG, the military arm of the Economic Community of West African States, adjusts a rocket launcher in the village of Lomo Nord, in central Ivory Coast, February 14, 2003 (AFP)
ECOWAS announced following an emergency summit in Nigeria on Thursday deploying a combat force as part of their plan to carry out military action against the new leadership in Niger.
The Commission President of the West African bloc Omar Touray said the members decided "to order the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger," without specifying further details.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu stated before the summit, which was held behind closed doors, that "diplomatic negotiations and dialogue" remain a priority option to address the situation in the neighboring country.
"All is not lost yet" for a "peaceful solution, as a roadmap to restore democracy and stability," Tinubu said after the meeting, stressing however that "no option is taken off the table, including the use of force as a last resort."
"If we don't do it, no one else will do it for us."
The President of the Ivory Coast said ECOWAS "has intervened in the past, in Liberia, in Sierra Leone, in Gambia and Guinea-Bissau" when security was allegedly threatened in these countries.
"Today we have a similar situation in Niger, and I like to say that ECOWAS cannot accept this," Alassane Ouattara told reporters after the meeting, adding that he hoped the decision to deploy the standby force "will be implemented immediately."
Western-backed ECOWAS gave the coup leaders a one-week deadline - which ended last Sunday - to surrender to the bloc's terms or else face a military operation. The delayed action came amid reports of a number of internal hurdles within the countries of the West African bodies - most notably the Senate opposition in Nigeria.
Amid these threats, Mali and Burkina Faso stated that any attack on Niger would be considered a declaration of war against them.
The bloc announced on Tuesday that it has the capacity to deploy 25,000 troops in order to invade Niger and reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum back in power.
On Wednesday, Antinekar Al-Hassan, a political advisor of Bazoum, warned that a military attack on Niger might bring all of Africa up in flames, stressing that ECOWAS is unaware of the price of such a mistake.
In a joint letter dated August 8, former presidents and prime ministers of Niger urged ECOWAS to lift sanctions on the country and resort to diplomatic approaches to resolve the escalating tensions.
"We ... are asking you to lift sanctions against the people of Niger and use diplomatic and political means to find together with the military peaceful and constructive solutions to this serious crisis suffered by our country," the letter read.
The signees include former President Mahamane Ousmane, as well as former prime ministers, such as Seini Oumarou, Mamane Oumarou, Hama Amadou, and Mahamadou Danda.
