The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ordered the activation and deployment of the bloc's reserve troops as a response to the military coup in Niger, the group's communique revealed.
"ECOWAS decides to [...] order the deployment of the Standby Force to restore constitutional order in Niger," the statement read.
The organization, however, added that the members remain committed to return to constitutional order "through peaceful means" and keep all options on the table to achieve it.
Presiding over the summit, Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu stated that the priority of negotiation and dialogue is crucial as the foundation of the approach to Niger.
The Second Extraordinary Summit of ECOWAS assembled on Thursday amid Niger's refusal to accede to the bloc's ultimatum requiring the coup leadership to restore the country's elected President Mohamed Bazoum to power. The ultimatum expired on Sunday.
Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger's neighbors, both of which are ruled by transitional governments that seized power in coups, announced earlier that an intervention would be a "declaration of war" on their countries.
On July 30, in response to the coup, ECOWAS suspended all financial aid, froze the mutineers' assets, and introduced a ban on commercial flights to and from the country, as well as closed all borders.
On July 26, Bazoum was ousted and detained by his guard, led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani. The caretaker National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland closed the country's borders and broke security agreements with France, its former colonizer.