Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, on Thursday disclosed that the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS, stands for Democracy and also encourages the practice in all member nations.

Musa made this known at the meeting of West African military chiefs in Ghana, which was aimed at coordinating a possible armed intervention to reverse a coup in Niger, as Germany called for EU sanctions against the rebel leaders.

"Democracy is what we stand for and it's what we encourage," Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, told the meeting in Accra.

"The focus of our gathering is not simply to react to events, but to proactively chart a course that results in peace and promotes stability," he said.

ECOWAS troops have intervened in other emergencies since 1990 including in wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Ivory Coast, Benin and Nigeria are expected to contribute troops, but little detail has emerged over a potential Niger operation.

Meanwhile, Germany's foreign ministry on Thursday said it wanted the European Union, EU to impose sanctions on the coup leaders, adding on social media that Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had held talks with her French and US counterparts.

Access24 reports that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) agreed to activate a "standby force to restore constitutional order" in Niger.

ECOWAS is demanding Niger's coup leaders release President Mohamed Bazoum after his July 26 ouster, warning that the bloc could send in troops as a last resort if negotiations fail.