West African leaders order activation of standby force
The Guardian|August 11, 2023
Leaders of a powerful west African regional bloc have ordered the activation of its standby force, increasing the pressure on the senior army officers who deposed Niger's democratically elected leader last month but leaving the door open for a diplomatic solution.
Jason Burke
West African leaders order activation of standby force

Talking after an emergency Ecowas summit in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria warned that "no option is taken off the tables including the use of force as the last resort". He added: "If we don't do it, no one else will do it for us. We remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting Niger towards peaceful and democratic stability in the country." 

Earlier Tinubu had appeared to step away from the imminent use of force despite a deadline expiring last weekend, which analysts said strongly suggested the regional grouping was reluctant to go to war.

In his opening speech Tinubu had said "diplomatic negotiations and dialogue" should be "the bedrock" of the Ecowas reponse to the crisis, and barely mentioned the earlier threat to send thousands of troops into Niger following a coup d'etat there by disgruntled army officers on 26 July.

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