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The
coup last month has caused alarm among Western allies and
democratic African states who fear it could allow Islamist
groups active in the Sahel region to expand their reach, and
give Russia a foothold to increase its influence.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been
trying to negotiate with the junta but says it is ready to send
troops into Niger to restore constitutional order if diplomatic
efforts fail.
The AU Peace and Security Council said in a communique on
Tuesday that it had noted the decision to activate an ECOWAS
standby force and asked the AU Commission to assess the
economic, social, and security implications of deploying such a
force.
The resolutions in Tuesday's statement were adopted at a council
meeting held on Aug. 14, it said.
It reiterated calls for the coup leaders to immediately release
elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained since
the coup, and return to their barracks.
The coup leaders have so far resisted pressure to step down and
proposed a three-year timeline to organise elections, a plan
which ECOWAS said on Monday it outright rejected.
The AU also said it strongly rejected any external interference
in the situation by any actor or country outside of Africa,
including engagements by private military companies - a likely
reference to Russian mercenary group Wagner, which is active in
neighbouring Mali.
(Reporting by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Alexander Winning and
Angus MacSwan)
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