A meeting of defence chiefs from ECOWAS nations held today at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, but the gathering is conspicuously missing the presence of some key countries. Defence Chiefs from Mali, Niger, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, and Guinea were noticeably absent from the meeting, while representatives from several other nations are in attendance.
Present at the meeting are Defence Chiefs from Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal, The Gambia, Cote D’Ivoire, and Cape Verde. The meeting is being presided over by General Christopher Musa, the Nigeria Chief of Defence Staff.
The meeting has been convened in response to the recent military coup in Niger Republic, where the Commander of Niger’s Presidential Guards, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, toppled the democratically elected government last Friday.
See Also: Military Intervention in Niger, Declaration of War Against Us – Burkina Faso and Mali
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had issued a seven-day ultimatum following the coup, demanding a swift restoration of constitutional order in Niger Republic. However, the defence chiefs’ gathering indicates a concerted effort among regional powers to address the situation and find a resolution.
The absence of some key countries’ defence chiefs from the meeting raises questions about their stance on the matter and their willingness to cooperate with regional efforts to address political instability in Niger. ECOWAS has been known to intervene in political crises in the region to restore democratic governance and uphold the rule of law.
The situation in Niger is being closely monitored by the international community, and the actions and decisions of the defence chiefs and their respective governments will have significant implications for the political landscape in the West African region.
As the meeting progresses, stakeholders and observers are eagerly awaiting the outcomes and decisions that will be taken. The regional response to the coup in Niger Republic will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences on the future stability and governance in the West African sub-region.