Niger coup: Ecowas to assemble 'standby force'

[muriel_volestrangler]

West African nations have approved armed intervention in Niger "as soon as possible", the Ivory Coast president says, following a meeting to discuss the coup.

At the meeting, leaders of the Ecowas regional bloc said they had agreed to assemble a "standby" military force.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu said the use of force would be a "last resort".
...
Mr Ouattara said the Ivory Coast would provide a battalion of 850 to 1,100 men, and said soldiers from Nigeria and Benin would also be deployed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-66465146

[Tetrachloride]

1. Niger won't take a hint

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Niger coup: Russia warns Ecowas not to take military action

Russia has warned that military intervention in Niger would lead to a "protracted confrontation" after regional bloc Ecowas said it would assemble a standby force.

Such an intervention would destabilise the Sahel region as a whole, the Russian foreign ministry said.

Russia does not formally back the coup.

But the US, which backs efforts to restore deposed leader Mohamed Bazoum, says its Wagner mercenary group is taking advantage of the instability.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-66478430

Russia sees itself as the new colonial power in the region.