The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff is set to begin its meeting today, Thursday, August 17, in Accra.
The two-day emergency summit seeks to finalise plans for the deployment of the backup force to Niger.
The West African regional bloc found out its choice to assemble a backup force even as operating on other diplomatic approach to resolve the crisis in Niger.
Soldiers in Niger introduced a coup on country wide TV, on July 27. They said they had dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions and closed the nation’s borders. President Mohamed Bazoum was also held captive and is face charges of high treason.
ECOWAS had initially given the junta a week’s ultimatum to return the country to constitutional rule or get ready for military action. Following the deadline, the regional bloc agreed to create a backup force for the military intervention.
Already some nations together with Ivory Coast have agreed to offer troops for the force. However, some leaders of nations like Nigeria and Ghana are facing criticisms from the opposition who do not approve of the use of a military intervention.
Reacting to ECOWAS’ verdict to assemble a force, security analyst Rtd Colonel Festus Aboagye, on Tuesday, stated that the bloc can also take some time to deploy a military force to Niger in its attempt constitutional rule.
He explained that a backup force is based on contributions from member states and adding that some nations do no have enough troops or asserts to offer.