The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its Chairman, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria have condemned the attempted coup in Niger.
The regional body voiced its strong opposition to the situation in Niger on Wednesday saying: “ECOWAS condemns in the strongest terms the attempt to seize power by force and calls on the coup plotters to free the democratically- elected President of the Republic immediately and without any condition.”
ECOWAS said the international community will hold all those involved in the plot responsible for the security and safety of the president, his family, members of the government and the general public.
According to report from Niamey, an attempted coup in the Republic with military vehicles blocking the presidential palace with the President believed to be onside the palace.
However, a statement from the presidency confirmed the safety of the president.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu who doubles as the chairperson of ECOWAS also condemned the coup attempt.
A statement personally signed by Tinubu said ECOWAS “will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government” of Niger.
Tinubu said: “Information filtering in from the Republic of Niger indicates some unpleasant developments around the country’s highest political leadership.
“It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country.
“The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa.
“I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region.
I am in close consultation with other leaders in our region, and we shall protect our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism.
“As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order.”
