Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met in Abuja on Thursday, August 10, to deliberate on the next steps as the military junta in the Niger Republic remains adamant after ousting Mohamed Bazoum.
Bazoum was sacked from power by military personnel in a palace coup that enraged ECOWAS leaders.
An ultimatum given to the coupists has failed to yield any result as Bazoum remains in hostage, and the military refuses to step down.
At the end of its meeting in the Nigerian capital, the regional leaders decided as follows:
1) Reiterates its strong condemnation of the attempted coup d’etat and the continued illegal detention of President Mohammed Bazoam, his family and government members
2) Further condemns the condition in which President Bazoum is being detained and holds the CNSP fully and solely responsible for the safety, security and physical integrity of President Bazoum, members of his family and government
3) Uphold all measures and principles agreed upon by the extraordinary Summit held on Niger on July 30 2023
4) Underscore the determination of the ECOWAS authority to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
5) Enforce 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
6) Warn member states who, directly or indirectly, hindered the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger about the consequences of their action before the community
7) Call on the African Union to endorse all the decisions taken by the ECOWAS authority on the situation in Niger
8) 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
9) Direct the President of the Commission to monitor the implementation of the sanctions
10) Direct the Committee of the Chief of Defence staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately
11) Order the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger
12) Underscore its continued commitment to restoring constitutional order through peaceful means.
The military government in Niger is yet to respond to the resolutions of ECOWAS as of the time of this report.
