By Lisa Zengarini
West African leaders have resolved to order the “immediate activation” and the deployment of a regional standby force to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger.
Meeting on Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria, for a second emergency summit after the military coup of 27 July, and after the expiry of their ultimatum to the ruling military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani on 6 August, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) called for a deployment “to restore constitutional order” in the country.
In a statement released at the closing of the meeting, the African leaders also emphasized their “determination to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis”, while upholding all measures and principles agreed upon by the extraordinary summit held on Niger on 30th July 2023, in which they decided strong sanctions against the junta.
“We affirm that nothing can justify the creation or facilitation of an environment that is destructive to our people. No individual, national, regional, geopolitical or denominational interest or project should take precedence over the preservation of life, human dignity and the wellbeing of the future generations in West Africa and beyond.”
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