The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has issued a directive for the deployment of standby military troops to restore constitutional order in the Niger Republic.
The regional bloc had threatened the use of force as a last option if the Nigerien military authorities remain recalcitrant one week from the ECOWAS first meeting which was held on July 30.
The latest directive came at the end of its second extraordinary meeting in Abuja to address the political crisis in Niger, yesterday.
The resolve to deploy force comes days after the military junta in Niger defied the ECOWAS deadline to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
In attendance at the summit were Presidents Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco of Guinea Bissau, and Everiste Ndayishimiye of Burundi.
Others are Presidents Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania, Nana Akofo-Ado of Ghana, Macky Sall of Senegal, and Patrice Talon of Benin Republic.
Also present were retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), Babagana Kingibe and the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad III.
President of ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, who read the resolution as contained in the communique, released after the second Extraordinary Summit on the Socio-Political Situation in the Republic of Niger, yesterday, in Abuja, said the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the sub-regional body considered the current situation in Niger as well as ECOWAS engagement since the last extraordinary summit, in arriving at the decision.
Touray said it also reviewed reports of envoys of the chairman to Niger Republic and other locations, and carefully considered the report and recommendations of the ECOWAS committee of chiefs of defence staff.
Furthermore, he said ECOWAS leaders extensively discussed the latest developments in Niger since the last extraordinary summit held on July 30, 2023.
He said in light of this, and taking into account the expiration of the one-week ultimatum given for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger, the Authority resolved among others to “reiterates its strong condemnation of the attempted coup d’etat and the continued illegal detention of President Mohammed Bazoam, his family and members of his government; condemned the condition in which President Bazoum is being detained and hold the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) fully and solely responsible for the safety, security and physical integrity of President Bazoum, members of his family and government; upheld all measures and principles agreed upon by the extra ordinary Summit of July 30 underscores the determination of the ECOWAS authority to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis; enforced all measures in particular border closures and strict travel bans and assets freeze on all persons or groups of individuals whose actions hinder all peaceful efforts aimed at ensuring the smooth and complete restoration of constitutional order.”
The Authority warned member states who by their action directly or indirectly, hindered the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger about the consequences for their action before the community.
It also called on the African Union to endorse all the decisions taken by the ECOWAS authority on the situation in Niger.
It further called on all partner countries and institutions including the United Nations to support ECOWAS, in its effort to ensure a quick restoration of constitutional order, in conformity with its normative instruments.
The Authority directed the President of the Commission to monitor the implementation of the sanctions. It also directed the Committee of the chief of defense staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately. It ordered the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. It underscored its continued commitment for the restoration of constitutional order through peaceful means.
•Coupists terrorists, belong to barracks –Quattara
President of Cote d’Ivoire, Alassane Quattara, has described the Niger Republic junta as terrorists and kidnappers that must be pushed back to the barracks where they belong else the subregion will remain stagnated.
Quattara, who chairs the West African Monetary Union (WAMU) spoke before departing the venue of the meeting of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on the situation in Niger Republic.
He insisted that ECOWAS must flush out the putschists if they failed to release and reinstate Bazoum.
He told journalists that action against Niger was not a Nigerian affair, as ECOWAS had previously acted in cases where there have been interference with constitutional order among member states.
While noting that the subregional body had sent high-powered delegations to Niger, he said the military authorities have however continued to hold President Bazoum hostage, a situation he described as terrorism.
He asserted that ECOWAS would not accept coups as the place of the military is in the barracks.
Quattara said if they do not allow Bazoum to exercise his mandate, “we will go ahead and push them out.”
•It’s time to correct past mistake –Sall
President of Senegal, Macky Sall, has said his country stands by decisions of ECOWAS.
Responding to a question on why ECOWAS was taking strong action against Republic of Niger compared to other member states in similar position, he said: “If we had made mistakes in the past, we should try to correct it now. There is always a time to get started. I think it was a mistake not to have taken action previously, but now that we are together on this we should take action to make sure that it does not continue.”
Asked his country’s stance as regards the resolution taken, Sall said: “I support the action that has been proposed by ECOWAS that we do not accept this attempted coup d’tar to stand and that we will make every effort to make sure that constitutional order returns to Niger.”
ECOWAS countries that have witnessed coups are: Mali: In August 2020, the Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was overthrown in a military coup led by Colonel Assimi Goïta.
Guinea: On September 5, 2021, the President Alpha Condé was ousted by a military coup led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya.
Burkina Faso: Although not a recent event, Burkina Faso faced a coup d’état in September 2015, resulting in the temporary removal of President Michel Kafando by the Presidential Guard.
The Gambia: In December 2014, former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh survived a coup attempt by dissident members of the Military.
Niger Republic has experienced several coups since its independence in 1960. There have been four successful military coups in Niger Republic’s history.
The first one occurred in 1974 led by Colonel Seyni Kountché, followed by two others in 1996 and 1999 led by Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara.
There was another one in 2010, led by Salou Djibo and the latest coup happened in July 26, 2023.
(THE SUN)
