West Africa's Readiness for Standby Force in Niger and the Opposition to Military Intervention

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced that most of its member states, excluding those under military rule and Cape Verde, are prepared to join a standby force that could intervene in Niger following the recent coup. The decision was made during a meeting of defence chiefs from the 15-member regional bloc in Accra. The bloc has been deliberating on the use of force as a "last resort" due to mediation efforts and a lack of consensus. Burkina Faso and Mali warned that military intervention in Niger would be considered an act of war, highlighting a divide within the region. The African Union's Peace and Security Council is yet to make a decision on whether to support military intervention.