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00:00 the conclusion of the two-day military meeting about Niger, West African military chiefs
00:05 discussed strategy for possible intervention and came up with a plan to restore democracy
00:11 in a country, although no specific date was given.
00:16 Member states have signed up to certain obligations, which means they cede part of their sovereignty
00:26 to the collective good, that is of equal worth.
00:30 And I'm talking about there are various national constitutions which they must not flout and
00:36 which the junta in Niger has flouted.
00:40 All we are doing is to make sure that Niger gets back to rule-based governance in a sister
00:50 country.
00:51 We've already agreed and fine-tuned what will be required for the intervention, the strategic
00:59 lift capacity, what the strategic objectives are, equipment needed, the commitment of member
01:08 states, which was very, very, very encouraging.
01:13 All member states of ECOWAS present here today have all committed elements.
01:22 We are ready to go any time the order is given.
01:25 The D-Day is also decided, which we are not going to disclose.
01:33 And our correspondent, Justice Baidu, is in Accra.
01:36 Good evening, Justice.
01:39 Please take us through today's meeting.
01:44 So it's been a long day of deliberation of ECOWAS military chiefs, and what they've just
01:51 come out with is a decision now that they say is the final steps that they've had to
02:01 go through to ensure that they ready themselves for this intervention in Niger if they are
02:07 called on.
02:09 The next steps, they say, would be to present the report that they've gone through over
02:15 the last two days to the bigger ECOWAS body for that consideration to be done.
02:23 But according to them, they are still leaving all alternatives on the table and going through
02:30 the mediation process.
02:31 They did say that part of the things they've done today is actually to put together another
02:38 mediation group that is expected to go into Niger beginning from tomorrow, which means
02:44 that they are still open to all the available alternatives to bring this issue to a close.
02:52 What they say is that the bigger alternative, the bigger objective is to restore democracy
02:58 to Niger, and that is the option that they are leaving, the only option they are leaving
03:03 to the junta in Niami at the moment.
03:08 So is there a consensus within ECOWAS to intervene?
03:13 Well, according to the head, the chief political person who has been speaking here today, every
03:22 member of the commission has committed to this decision to intervene when the need arises.
03:31 We did ask him yesterday about Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, and who were not here through
03:39 yesterday and today.
03:41 We know these countries have already said that they would be supporting Niger if in
03:46 the instance that ECOWAS intervenes with its military.
03:51 They said that these countries, three countries, are already under suspension per ECOWAS rules,
03:58 and so it's the reason they are not here, and it's the reason that they wouldn't be
04:03 a part of this intervention.
04:05 But apart from these three countries, every other member country of ECOWAS has committed
04:11 to this, and have indeed indicated that they have men and resources ready if they are called
04:17 on.
04:18 Justice Baidu, in Accra.