This "hard but legitimate stance" can be explained by a string of coups in the region, with precedents in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray was quoted as saying in the statement.
"The decision of the Heads of State and Government to activate the clause providing for the application of legitimate force in Niger was reached only after due consideration of how political dialogue alone has unfortunately failed to deter coup plotters in the region," Touray said, adding that the West African bloc had not declared war on Niger and that the decision to deploy a regional force was in line with the spirit of obligations under ECOWAS.
Meanwhile, the rebel-appointed chief of staff, Moussa Salaou Barmou, reportedly ordered the Nigerien armed forces to be put on maximum alert amid threats of aggression against the country.
A coup took place in Niger on July 26. President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted and detained by his own guard, led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani. Following the coup, ECOWAS suspended all cooperation with Niger and threatened invasion if the coup leaders do not reinstate Bazoum. On August 18, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs Abdel-Fatau Musah said that ECOWAS general staff chiefs had agreed on a date for the beginning of military intervention, but would not make it public.