The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to convene a meeting of its military chiefs in Accra, Ghana, on Thursday and Friday. The gathering comes amidst simmering tensions surrounding a potential military intervention in the Republic of Niger, as declared by the Ghanaian army spokesman.
ECOWAS member countries had initially considered a military intervention against the perpetrators of Niger’s coup. However, the heads of state within the bloc have called for the pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Last week, following the coup in Niger, ECOWAS defense ministers and military chiefs convened a meeting where they developed deployment plans and issued an ultimatum against the coup plotters.
Fifteen ECOWAS member nations, including Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, and Benin, have expressed their readiness to provide troops in the event of an intervention.
In a noteworthy development, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Mali, which were previously suspended from ECOWAS due to their own coup attempts, are now offering military support to the junta in Niger in the event of an intervention.
