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The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have ordered immediate military invasion of Niger, charging the regional body’s standby force to restore constitutional order following military coup late last month.
President of ECOWAS, Omar Alieu Touray, made the declaration during a meeting of the organisation on Thursday afternoon.
“We direct the committee of defence staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately,” Mr Touray said, adding that the action was to “restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.”
ECOWAS chairman, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, had said the ongoing political crisis in Niger Republic was a threat to the stability of Nigeria and other West African countries.
“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,” said Tinubu. “I hope that through our collective efforts we can bring about a peaceful resolution as a roadmap to restoring stability and democracy in Niger. All is not lost yet.”
The Second Extraordinary Summit on the socio-political situation in the Republic of Niger held in Abuja opened Thursday.
Present at the summit are Presidents of Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Cote ‘d’ Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Sierra Leone, and Togo, while Liberia and the Gambia were represented by their Foreign Ministers.
The announcement came despite widespread warning that an invasion could plunge sun-Sahara Africa into turmoil, as well as doubt among Western leaders that the alliance can pull of the operation in a timely manner. The United States, France and others have expressed support for the efforts of ECOWAS in resolving the crisis.
Meanwhile, Niger’s military junta had earlier announced a new government on Thursday, naming Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, prime minister, to lead other 21 new minister forming the new government.