The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ordered the deployment of its standby force to Niger, where a military coup ousted the President Mohamed Bazoum last month. The regional bloc said it was ready to use all options, including force, to restore constitutional order in the country.
The decision was announced after an emergency summit of ECOWAS leaders in Nigeria’s capital Abuja on Thursday. The summit was convened to discuss the situation in Niger, where the coup leaders have refused to heed the bloc’s ultimatum to reinstate Bazoum and release him from detention.