The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said Wednesday that, although it is on the table, military intervention is “the last resort” to try to restore constitutional order in Niger, following last week’s coup.
“The military option is the last option on the table, the last resort, but we have to prepare for the eventuality,” Abuya Abdulfatai Musa, the regional bloc’s commissioner for political affairs, told reporters.
“We need to show that we can not only bark, but also bite,” Musa added highlighting ECOWAS’ zero tolerance for coups d’état in the region.
The commissioner made these statements after the start of a meeting of the military chiefs of the countries of this organization, which will last until August 4, in the Nigerian capital on Wednesday.