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The West African region has suffered more than its fair share of military coups and civil wars and its leaders have made a clear commitment to ensuring that these come to an end.
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Ecowas has been going through a series of exercises, scenario-building. So it is possible that it can take place so quickly”
If the arrival of the leaders of Cape Verde, Sierra Leone and Benin fails to end the stalemate over last month's elections, West African states have threatened a military intervention if Mr Gbagbo does not step down.
The regional grouping Ecowas has a history of using force to restore order, when there is no other option.
As early as 1978 the region's nations agreed to refrain from the use of force against each other and this was followed in 1981 by a mutual defence pact.
But events in Liberia in the 1990s, when the country descended into civil war, called for more urgent measures.
BBC News - Armed and ready for Ivorian intervention?
Africa doesn't really get a lot of play around here so I thought I'd throw this in, I hope I haven't missed a breaking rules guideline, I know the thread title is a question but it is talking about what's happening.
So, onto my 2 cents.
As an African it is refreshing to see Africa trying to do the right thing, but it's a little tough when some of the very leaders villyfing this guy, aren't exactly squeaky clean themselves, and certainly even if it is for the greater good, a military intervention could be costly in terms of not only human lives, but a great waste of money and recourses that these countries simply can't spare to have war. But it could cost them more in the long run if there's a refugee crisis.
Have a read through and check out some of the pictures, these guys mean business, and if Africa can begin to police itself, and sort out it's own problems, even if it sometimes needs foreign military aid and money to do it now, we could see some promising results.