Ecowas orders deployment of force to restore constitutional order in Niger
West Africa leaders have directed the deployment of a ‘standby force’ to restore democracy in Niger after the coup.
Transcript
00:00 In Abuja, leaders of the West African EcoWares bloc prepare their latest response to the
00:07 coup in Niger.
00:09 The deadline they'd set for a restoration of the president passed on Sunday.
00:14 Emphasizing there was still hope, the Nigerian president announced a more robust approach.
00:20 "Direct the committee of the chief of defence staff to activate the EcoWares standby force
00:41 with all its elements immediately.
00:42 Order the deployment of the EcoWares standby force to restore constitutional order in the
00:43 Republic of Niger."
00:44 It's not the first time EcoWares has delivered a military response to a political crisis
00:49 in the region.
00:50 There have been seven interventions in the last 30 years.
00:53 However, it seems to pose President Bizoum's life could be on the line, with the coup leaders
00:57 telling the Associated Press he would be killed if there was any military attempt to restore
01:02 him to power.
01:04 "We still recognize President Bizoum as the democratically elected president of Niger
01:13 and the conditions he is being held in right now are unacceptable."
01:19 The president and his family are under house arrest in his palace with limited food and
01:23 water as with each passing day the coup leaders grip on power in the country appears to be
01:28 strengthening.
01:29 [WHOOSH]