Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has given Nigerien military Junta a seven-day ultimatum to reinstate ousted President Muhammed Bazoum into office or face measures including force.
This followed an extraordinary meeting of leaders of ECOWAS member-states at the State House, Abuja, to discuss the happenings in Niger Republic.
While recognising Bazoum as the legitimate President of the landlocked state, the bloc also imposed land and border closures, suspending all commercial flights between Niger and ECOWAS member states.
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“No more time for warning signals, it’s time for action,” said Nigeria’s President and ECOWAS Chairman Bola Tinubu during his welcome address as leaders of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States met in Abuja on Sunday to discuss the recent coup in Niger Republic which has left President Mohammmed Bazoum in detention after being overthrown by members of his presidential guard.
Tinubu said it was time to be “strong, forceful and resolute” in ensuring the re-instatement of Bazoum.
The ECOWAS leaders rose from the extraordinary meeting and issued a one-week ultimatum to the military junta holding Bazoum hostage to reinstate him as President.
“We should walk our talk,” Tinubu said just before President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr.Omar Alieu-Touray, read the communique of the close-door meeting of the West African Heads of State and Government.
Addressing the “attempted overthrow” of the constitutional order in Niger, ECOWAS reiterated its “zero-tolerance” for unconstitutional change of government in the sub-region and condemned “in the strongest terms” Bazoum’s overthrow and detention.
Announcing the decision, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, said all Chiefs of Defense Staff of the member states will proceed for an emergency meeting to strategise on effective ways to implement a possible military operation to restore Bazoum to office.
He said the ECOWAS will “Take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
“Such measures may include the use of force.
“To this effect, the Chiefs of Defense Staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately.”
They insisted that Bazoum is recognised as the legitimate, elected president of Niger by the African Union and the international community.
They also rejected any purported resignation from Bazoum.
“If the authorities’ demands are not met within one week, ECOWAS will take all necessary measures, including the use of force, to restore constitutional order,” it said.
It said those responsible for violence and terror against the citizens and residents of Niger will be held accountable.
In what could be seen as a veiled reference to Russian mercenary and leader of the Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, it condemned the pronouncement of support by foreign governments and private military contractors.
Immediate actions to be taken by ECOWAS include the closure of land and air borders within ECOWAS countries and establishing an echo no-fly zone for commercial flights to and from Niger. Hide original message
There will also be a freezing of assets and suspension of all financial assistance transactions including of bodies that support the coup attempt.
ECOWAS also imposed travel bans and asset freezes for military officials involved in the coup attempt, and extended it to their family members and civilians supporting their institutions or government.
It said a representative of the ECOWAS Chair will be dispatched to Niger to deliver the demands of the authority.
