In an Extraordinary Summit on the Socio-Political Situation in the Republic of Niger, held on Sunday in Abuja, the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) called for the immediate release and reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum as the legitimate Head of State and Government of Niger.
The summit attendees issued a communique, read by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, denouncing the attempted overthrow of constitutional order in Niger and condemning the illegal detention of President Bazoum, as well as members of his family and government.
The leaders also rejected any purported resignation by President Bazoum and asserted him as the only recognized and elected President by ECOWAS, the African Union, and the international community.
The communique further emphasized that only official acts of President Bazoum or his duly-mandated officials would be recognized by ECOWAS.
To demonstrate their seriousness, the ECOWAS leaders issued a seven-day ultimatum for meeting the demands. Failure to comply within this period would lead to the implementation of measures to restore constitutional order, including the potential use of force, as decided by the Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS.
President Bola Tinubu hosted the summit as the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. The leaders appointed 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, establishment of a no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger, and suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger.
Additionally, assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Bank, state enterprises, and parastatals in commercial banks will be frozen. The country will also be suspended from all financial assistance and transactions with financial institutions within ECOWAS.
Travel bans and assets freezes were imposed on the military officials involved in the coup attempt and their family members and civilians who participate in any institution or government established by these military officials.
The summit highlighted the importance of African unity and solidarity and emphasized the rejection of coups and interruptions to constitutional order. President Tinubu expressed gratitude to the attendees for their active engagement and reaffirmed their commitment to democracy, peace, and prosperity in the region.
During 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.
The heads of state attended the extraordinary summit from several West African nations, including Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, and Togo, while the Presidents of Cape Verde, Liberia, Niger, and Sierra Leone were represented.