ECOWAS force to confront Niger junta if talks fail.
PIC. 9. GRADUANDS OF 12 BATTALION NIGERIAN ARMY PRE-DEPOLYMENT TRAINING, DISPLAYING AT THE NIGERIAN ARMY PEACEKEEPING CENTRE (NAPKC) AT JAJI IN KADUNA STATE ON FRIDAY (16/12/11).
Troops of the Economic Community of West African States have pledged readiness to participate in a standby force that could restore civil rule in Niger Republic should diplomatic efforts to reverse a coup there fail.
All member states, except those under military rule and Cape Verde, pledged to participate in the standby force at a meeting in Accra, Ghana capital, on Thursday.
Addressing the assembled Defence Chiefs from ECOWAS member countries, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, “Let no one be in doubt if everything else fails, the valiant forces of West Africa…are ready to answer to the call of duty.
According to Ghana News Agency, Musah said ECOWAS would go to Niger with its resources and any organisation willing to help was welcome.
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council’s powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to determine the existence of any threat to peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression, and to take military and non-military action to restore international peace and security.
Also, the Southern Africa Development Community bloc in Nigeria on Thursday supported the actions taken by the African Union and the ECOWAS to restore democracy in Niger.
SOURCE: PUNCH NEWSPAPER
