By Doreen Ampofo
ECOWAS has defended its stance on military intervention in Niger signaling its readiness to proceed if ongoing diplomacy fails.
This is the second time in the span of two weeks that the Committee is meeting to plan on restoring democracy in Niger.
It follows the second meeting of the ECOWAS Heads of Government which gave the marching orders for the deployment of the standby force.
Chiefs of Defense Staff of the member countries are currently meeting in Accra to plan on how to activate the stand-by force pending approval by ECOWAS Leaders.
Speaking at the meeting, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, said if diplomacy fails to yield results, the standby force is prepared to act.
The meeting comes on the back of a decision by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS to activate a standby force in Niger after the military junta failed to reinstate Mohamed Bazoum as President.
On August 10, ECOWAS leaders met in Nigeria to explore other options including an intervention stand-by force. At the meeting of chiefs of Defence Staff, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, said the standby force is prepared to act.
He added that while ECOWAS does not need permission from the UN, it has the international body’s support to take action.
Ghana’s Minister of Defense, Dominic Nitiwul, said all member countries including Ghana, will continue to support the decisions and action plan agreed by Chiefs of the Defense Staff.
The two-day meeting is expected to end with a Communique tomorrow.
