The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the military in Niger Republic to restore ousted President Muhammed Bazoum to office. The decision was made during an extraordinary session of the Authority presided over by its Chairman, President Bola Tinubu, in Abuja on Sunday.
The military in Niger had detained President Mohamed Bazoum for several days after the Commander of the country’s Presidential Guards, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, declared himself the Head of a Transitional Government.
During the meeting, the Authority affirmed its recognition of Bazoum as the legitimate President of the country and announced the imposition of land border closures and the suspension of all commercial flights between Niger Republic and ECOWAS member states. The ECOWAS also announced economic sanctions against Niger, including the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger, and the freezing of assets of the Republic of Niger in Aqua Central Bank and Niger State enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks.
The ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Touray, stated that the Chiefs of Defense Staff of member states will proceed for an emergency meeting to strategize on effective ways to implement a possible military operation to restore Bazoum to office, and that the ECOWAS is prepared to take all measures necessary, including the use of force, to restore constitutional order in Niger Republic.
He added that the ECOWAS will “Take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Nigeria.
“Such measures may include the use of force.
“To this effect, the Chiefs of Defense staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately.”
On economic sanctions against Nigeria’s northern neighbour, Touray said that ECOWAS has approved the “Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Asia. Freeze all service transactions including energy transactions.
“Freeze assets of the Republic of Niger in Aqua Central Bank. Freeze of assets of the Niger State and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks.
“Suspension of measure from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID.”
Leaders from several ECOWAS member states, including Guinea-Bissau, Cote D’Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, Benin, and Ghana, attended the meeting. The Transitional President of Chad, Mahamat Deby, was also present. Cape Verde and Liberia were represented by their Foreign Affairs Ministers.
