Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Abdel-Fatau Musah, has conveyed that ECOWAS is deploying its resources to Niger and is open to collaboration with any willing organizations to provide assistance.

“The request for Chapter VII is often done in order to secure resources, access contributions from the UN coffers. The Heads of State are saying we are going to Niger with our resources. Anybody who wants to help us, fair enough,” he said.

Mr. Musah made these remarks during the ongoing 48th Extraordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS) in Accra.

This two-day gathering serves as a platform for the CDS to devise strategies for potential military intervention in Niger.

The powers outlined in Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter empower the UN Security Council to uphold global peace. It grants the Council authority to assess threats to peace, breaches of peace, or acts of aggression and to take both military and non-military measures to reestablish international peace and security.

Since Monday, July 26, the Military Junta of Niger Republic has detained President Mohamed Bazoum, his family, and members of his Cabinet.

The military coup in Niger marks the fifth occurrence of such an event in just over three years within the West African sub-region. Other countries experiencing coup d'états include Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.

Following the junta's takeover, ECOWAS leaders recently decided to activate a standby force for potential intervention. The military chiefs' responsibilities include preparing an action plan for Niger contingent upon approval from ECOWAS leaders.

General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Chief of Defence Staff for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, offered reassurance that the group would undertake appropriate actions.

“We must confront them head-on, dwell upon our shared experiences, wisdom and the strength of our collective resolve. Our decisions will be a strong message about our commitment to democracy, our intolerance for unconstitutional changes of government and our dedication to regional stability,” he said.

The path that lay before ECOWAS was not an easy one, but it ought to strive to restore democracy and sovereignty to the Republic of Niger, General Musa said.

“We must not allow the people of Niger to suffer. Our resolve is to protect the integrity of our states and protect ECOWAS citizens.”

Mr Dominic Nitiwul, the Minister of Defence, said the meeting was to restore constitutional order in the Community and a platform for the CDS to put in plans to meet ECOWAS directives to restore peace.

“Members are united in carrying out directives and measures of ECOWAS for democracy restoration in Niger,” he said.

He urged the CDS to continue to be loyal to their heads of state, ECOWAS and defend their nations and territorial interpretations of their nations with the right tools.

“You have the right that your people choose their leaders in a free and fair manner.”

“Let us stay united, loyal and committed to the decisions of our various Heads of State and governments and replicate what the past military leaders of ECOWAS did in countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Gambia and Guinea Bissau,” Mr Nitiwulu, also the New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Bimbila, said.

In a connected development, ECOWAS issued an order last week for its standby force to reinstate constitutional order in the Niger Republic.

Mr. Omar Alieu Touray, the President of ECOWAS, formally declared this resolution during the Extraordinary Meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, August 10, 2023.

Mr. Touray urged the African Union (AU), collaborating nations, and institutions to endorse the resolution adopted by the sub-regional entity.

He conveyed that all attempts to engage in dialogue with the military junta in Niger Republic had been met with defiance by the coup leaders. This stance was taken in the face of the persistent detention of President Mohamed Bazoum and his family.