The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has greenlit a swift intervention in Niger in response to a recent military coup that has disrupted the country’s constitutional order. The announcement was made by ECOWAS President Omar Alieu Touray during a convened organization meeting on Thursday. Touray directed the committee of defense staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force promptly, citing the urgency of restoring constitutional order in Niger.
The Second Extraordinary Summit addressing the socio-political crisis in Niger was convened in Abuja on Thursday. Attending the summit were leaders from Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Sierra Leone, and Togo, while Liberia and the Gambia were represented by their Foreign Ministers.
This decisive move comes amidst concerns about potential destabilization in the region and skepticism from Western leaders regarding the practicality of the operation’s timing. Nevertheless, both the United States and France, alongside other Western nations, have voiced their support for ECOWAS’ initiative to resolve the crisis.
Meanwhile, Niger’s military junta announced the composition of a new government on Thursday. Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine was named Prime Minister, leading a team of 21 ministers tasked with forming the country’s new administration.
