Military leaders from the West African group Ecowas are meeting to talk about sending a group of soldiers ready to help if needed in Niger. The meeting is happening on Thursday and Friday in the capital of Ghana, Accra.
Around 11 out of the 15 countries in Ecowas want to send soldiers to help put back the elected leader, Mohamed Bazoum, who was removed. Talking with the leaders didn’t work, so they are thinking about using military force.
However, three countries in Ecowas that are currently controlled by their own military – Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea – are supporting the group that took over in Niger.
The leaders who took over in Niger have said they will fight against any outside involvement.
During the meeting in Accra, they will talk about how many soldiers are needed and how to make sure they work together well.
In the past, Ghana and Nigeria have led groups of soldiers in similar situations, like in Liberia and Sierra Leone in the 1990s. Ecowas has also helped in other countries and recently in The Gambia.
This meeting is happening while Niger’s security situation is getting worse. On Tuesday, 17 soldiers were killed and 20 were hurt in an attack by militants.