ECOWAS To Niger Republic Junta – You’re Given 7-days To Reinstate Bazoum Else…

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…Calls for his immediate release

Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on Sunday in Abuja, demanded the full restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger and considered the illegal detention of President Mohamed Bazoum as a hostage situation.

The Leaders accordingly, called for the immediate release and reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum as the legitimate Head of State and Government of the Republic of Niger.

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The leaders stressed that in the event, ECOWAS’ demands are not met within one week, they would be forced to take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

They said; “Such measures may include the use of force for this effect, the Chiefs of Defence staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately”.

The leaders also warned that they hold the authors of the attempted coup d’état solely and fully responsible for the safety and security of Bazoum and that of his family and government.

These were contained in a communique issued at the end of the Extraordinary Summit on Socio-Political Situation in the Republic of Niger read by the President, ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray.

The ECOWAS leaders vehemently rejected any form of purported resignation by President Bazoum and declared him as the only recognised and elected President by ECOWAS, the African Union and the international community.

The communique further stated; “In this regard, only official acts of President Bazoum or his duly-mandated officials will be recognized by ECOWAS”.

The sun-regional leaders expressed strong condemnation of the attempted overthrow of constitutional order in Niger, and the illegal detention of President Bazoum, as well as members of his family and government.

ECOWAS leaders also condemned the pronouncement of support by foreign governments and foreign private military contractors, while expressing appreciation to various governments and partners for their stance and solidarity.

The Summit hosted by President Bola Tinubu, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, also agreed to appoint and dispatch a Special Representative to deliver the demands of the authority.

In response to the coup attempt, the Summit announced immediate sanctions on Niger including the closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger, establishing a no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger, and suspending all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger.

Furthermore, assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Bank, Niger state enterprises, and parastatals in commercial banks will be frozen.

Niger will also be suspended from all financial assistance and transactions with financial institutions within ECOWAS.

Additionally, travel bans and assets freezes were imposed on the military officials  involved in the coup attempt, as well as their family members and civilians who accept to participate in any institution or government established by these military officials.

In his closing remarks to the Summit, President Tinubu thanked fellow leaders, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, the Special Representative of the Secretary -General and Head of the United Nations Office in West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simaõ, for their active engagement and invaluable contributions to the discussions.

“As we come close to this Extraordinary Summit on the socio- political situation in the Republic of Niger, I send my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your active engagement in our open and closed door meeting.

“Your invaluable contributions to our discussions have got us this far and hopefully, we will achieve our objective. The essence of African unity and solidarity is hereby reaffirmed. Our unwavering commitment to democracy, peace and prosperity is hereby resolved.

“Throughout our deliberations, we have recognized that the challenges faced by Niger are inter connected with broader issues affecting our region.

“As African leaders, it is our shared responsibility to foster stability and progress, placing the wellbeing of our people at the forefront of our endeavours, and working together towards their prosperity and happiness must always consistently, be our goals and consistently.

“We will stand with our people in freedom and our commitment to the rule of law and not the barrel of gun. Africa has come of age.

 “We reject coup and interruption to constitutional order. Thank you for coming,” he said.

A statement by Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President pn Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, said that before the Summit, President Tinubu also held bilateral meetings with President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau, President Mahmat Iddris Deby Itno of Chad, and Michael Health, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of African Affairs.

Alake further said that in attendance at the Summit were Presidents Patrice Talon of Benin Republic,  Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire, Adama Barrow of The Gambia, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Embalo of Guinea Bissau, Macky Sall of Senegal, Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, while the Presidents of Cape Verde, Liberia, Niger and Sierra Leone were represented.

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