The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, on Thursday directed a “standby force” to restore constitutional order in Niger. The announcement came just hours after two Western officials told the Associated Press that Niger’s junta had said they would kill President Mohamed Bazoum if neighboring countries attempted any military intervention. For more on Niger’s political crisis, VOA’s Esther Githui-Ewart spoke to Daniel Eizenga, a research fellow at the African Center for Strategic Studies.