Chief of Staff of Niger’s deposed President Mohammed Bazoum, Djibo Dauoda is currently seeking refuge in Ghana, according to reports.

He was sighted engaging the media on Thursday, August 17, during a strategic meeting organised by the sub-regional body, Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) in Accra.

In his interaction, Djibo Dauoda was in denial that the military had toppled their government.

He added that the junta that seized power in the French West African country at the end of last month lacks recognition in the international community.

Meanwhile, a group of military chiefs from West Africa are wrapping up a strategic meeting organised by the sub-regional body ECOWAS in Accra to fashion out modalities for the deployment of troops to restore constitutional order in Niger.

The meeting commenced on Thursday and is expected to end today, Friday, August 18, 2023.

On the other hand, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has indicated that a significant number of its member nations are prepared to engage in a standby force, which could potentially intervene in Niger following a coup that transpired there at the end of the previous month.

As part of ongoing endeavors to reverse the ousting of Niger's president, Mohamed Bazoum, who was removed from power in a coup on July 26, defense chiefs from the 15-member regional alliance convened in Accra on Thursday.

ECOWAS commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah affirmed on Thursday that all member states, excluding those currently under military governance and Cape Verde, have expressed their readiness to partake in the standby force.

“Democracy is what we stand for and it’s what we encourage,” Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa said at the start of the two-day meeting in Accra. “The focus of our gathering is not simply to react to events, but to proactively chart a course that results in peace and promotes stability.”