At its extraordinary summit in Abuja on Thursday, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has ordered the activation and deployment of standby forces Republic of Niger to restore constitutional order.
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The order was contained in the communique from the second extraordinary meeting regarding Niger which was read out by the President of ECOWAS, Omar Alieu Touray.
The resolve to deploy forces comes four days after the deadline given by ECOWAS Authority to the Niger military junta to restore the elected President Mohamed Bazoum at its first extraordinary meeting elapsed.
At the session, which was held under the Chairmanship of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria.
Present at the summit were the Heads of State and representatives of the following ECOWAS states Republic of Benin, Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Republic of Ghana, Republic of Guinea Bissau, Republic of Nigeria, Republic of Senegal, Republic of Sierra Leone, Togolese Republic, The Gambia, Liberia, Cape Verde.
Also present were the Presidents of Burundi and Mauritania.
Extracts of the Communique issued at the end of the extraordinary summit of the ECOWAS Authority on 10th August 2023
“The Authority having considered the memorandum presented by the President of the ECOWAS Commission on the current situation in the Republic of Niger, as well as ECOWAS engagement since the last extraordinary summit, and having considered the report of the envoys of the chair to Niger and various other places, carefully considered the report and recommendations of the ECOWAS Committee of the Chiefs of Defense staffs, extensively discussed the latest development in Niger since the extraordinary summit held on 30th July 2023, noted that all diplomatic effort made ECOWAS in resolving the crisis has been defiantly repelled by the military leadership of the Republic of Niger, taking note of the expiration of the one week ultimatum given for the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger, decide as follows;
- Reiterate its strong condemnation of the Coup d’état and the continued illegal detention of President Muhammed Bazoum, has family and members of his government.
- Further condemns the condition in which President Bazoum is being detained, and hold the CNSP fully and solely responsible for the safety, security and physical integrity of President Bazoum, members of his family and government.
- Uphold all measures and principles agreed upon by the extraordinary summit held on Niger on 30th July 2023.
- Underscore the determination of the ECOWAS Authority to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
- Enforce all measures in particular border closures and strict travel bans and assets freeze on all persons and group of individuals whose actions hinder all peaceful efforts aimed at ensuring smooth restoration of constitutional order.
- Warn member states who by their actions directly or indirectly hinder the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger about the consequences for their action before the community.
- Call on the African Union to endorse all the decisions taken by the ECOWAS Authority on the situation in Niger.
- Further call 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.
- Direct the President of the Commission to monitor the implementation of the sanctions.
- Direct the Committee of the Chief of Defense Staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately.
- Order the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
- Underscore its continued commitment to the restoration of constitutional order through peaceful means.
- Express appreciation to his excellence Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, his eminence Muhammadu Said Abubakar the Sultan of Sokoto, Ambassador Baba Kingibe for the special envoy missions undertaken in Niger, Libya and Algeria onbehalf of the Chair of the Authority.
- Express gratitude to his excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu President of the Republic of Nigeria, and Chair of the ECOWAS Authority for convening the extraordinary summit and for the manner in which he has been conducting the affair of the community as Chair of the Authority.
“Done at Abuja, this 10th day of August 2023.”
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
