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]