Dominic Nitiwul, Ghana’s Minister of Defense, has urged Army chiefs in West African nations to support their Head of States, as well as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), while steps are taken to bring back democracy in Niger.
He urged the Army Generals to convey to the outside world that the era of popular support for coups is now past.
Speaking at the extraordinary meeting ongoing in Accra on Thursday and Friday for Army chiefs of some West African states over sending troops to Niger to restore constitutional order, he said; “your presence alone sounds and gives me a powerful message to the world that you are united in carrying out the directive of the Heads of State and governments of ECOWAS. And that after today and tomorrow’s meeting, you will put in place a plan to ensure that a standby force is activated and that democracy will be restored in Niger.”
“If Presidential guards in Guinea and Niger take hostage of their President, nobody in West Africa is safe. That is why I urge you to continue to be loyal to Heads of States. I urge you to continue to be loyal to ECOWAS directives and to give effects that the days that coup d’etats enjoy the support of our people are over.
“Yes, in a democracy, people will agree to disagree, but the vast majority of our people in West Africa are with you. The vast majority of the people of West Africa do not want to be under the difficulties that we are facing today.”
Dominic Nitiwul
The gathering comes after the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States decided to deploy a standby force to the West African country in turmoil.
The military junta headed by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, had first been given a seven-day deadline by the West African community to restore Mohamed Bazoum to his position as President. Following the expiration of the deadline, the authority resolved to consider additional alternatives, including an intervention through a stand-by force, on Thursday, August 10 in Abuja, Nigeria.
According to reports, the Ghanaian Parliament has backed a joint military force’s intervention in Niger.
Ivory Coast Completes Financial Arrangement For Battalion
After the meeting, Alassane Ouattara, the President of the Ivory Coast, told reporters that his nation had finalized the financial arrangements to send a battalion to the force.
“Cote d’Ivoire will provide a battalion and has made all financial arrangements for the operation, if it is to last three months. Provisions will be made at the budgetary level, so that our soldiers and officers who will participate in this operation do not lack anything. So Cote d’Ivoire is ready.”
Alassane Ouattara
The Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff’s meeting in Ghana’s military base, Burma Camp, will “finalise plans for the deployment of the Standby Force”.
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