West African bloc activates regional standby force for possible intervention in Niger coup

Aug 10, 2023 - 21:48

Participants pose for a photo at an emergency meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria, on July 30, 2023. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional group of 15 countries, agreed to impose sanctions on Niger's military leaders involved in a recent coup at an emergency meeting held here on Sunday. (ECOWAS/Handout via Xinhua)

ABUJA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) --

The 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Thursday said it has resolved to activate its standby force in response to the recent coup in Niger while underscoring its continued commitment to restore constitutional order in the country through peaceful means.

In a statement at the end of an extraordinary summit in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, the regional bloc reiterates its strong condemnation of the coup in Niger, saying it upholds all measures and principles agreed upon by the urgent ECOWAS summit on July 30.

The ECOWAS leaders "direct the (ECOWAS) committee of the Chiefs of Defense Staff to activate its standby force with all its elements immediately," and be ready for the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to restore the constitutional order in Niger, said the statement.

The bloc also said it will enforce all sanction measures, in particular border closures and strict travel bans, on all individuals or groups whose actions hinder peaceful efforts to restore constitutional order in Niger.

The ECOWAS said all options are on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis, and warned member states against "directly or indirectly hinder(ing) the peaceful resolution of the crisis."