The Economic Community of West African States has given the military junta detaining President Mohamed Bazoum and his family in Niger a week to restore constitutional order or face military action from the regional body.
The fifty first Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on the Political Situation in Niger rose from its deliberation in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria on Sunday where it resolved not to recognise any other leader in Niger except Bazoum.
A communique read out by Omar Alieu-Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, the regional body said it considers the development in Niger as a hostage situation and demands the immediate release of the Bazoum, members of his family and others being detained by the coupists.
The twelve-point resolution of the summit include:
“a. Affirm that His Excellency President Mohamed BAZOUM remains the
legitimate elected President and Head of State of The Republic of Niger
recognized by ECOWAS, the African Union and the International
community; In this regards, only official acts of President Bazoum or his
duly mandated officials will be recognized by ECOWAS;
“b. Condemn in the strongest terms the attempted overthrow of constitutional
order in Niger and the illegal detention of His Excellency President
Mohamed Bazoum, President and Head of State of Niger, as well as
members of his family and Government;
“c. Call for the immediate release and reinstatement of President Mohamed
Bazoum as President and Head of State of the Republic of Niger, and for the
full restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger;
“d. Reject any form of resignation that may purportedly come from His
Excellency President Mohamed Bazoum;
“e. Consider the illegal detention of President Bazoum as a hostage situation
and hold the authors of the attempted coup d’état solely and fully
responsible for the safety and security of His Excellency President Mohamed Bazoum, as well as members of his family and Government;
“f. In the event the Authority’s demands are not met within one week, take all
measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of
Niger. Such measures may include the use of force; To this effect,the Chiefs
of defense staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately;
“g. Hold accountable all those responsible for violence and terror against lives
and properties of innocent citizens and residents;
“h. Condemn the pronouncement of support by foreign governments and
foreign private military contractors;
“i. Express appreciation to the various governments and partners for their
stance and solidarity with ECOWAS;
“j. Appoint and dispatch a special representative of the Chair of the Authority to Niger immediately to deliver the demands of the Authority;
“k. In the meantime, the following measures are to be applied with immediate effect:
“1. Closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger;
“2. Institution of ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from
Niger;
“3. Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between
ECOWAS Member States and Niger;
“4. Freeze of all service transaction including utility services;
“5. Freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks;
“6. Freeze of assets of the Niger State and the State Enterprises and Parastatals in Commercial Banks;
“7. Suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with
all financial institutions, particularly, EBID and BOAD;
“8. Travel ban and asset freeze for the military officials involved in the coup
attempt. The same applies to their family members and the civilians who accept to participate in any institutions or government established by these military officials;
“9. Calls on WAEMU and all other regional bodies to implement this decision.
“l. Express appreciation to His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President
and Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the manner in
which he has been conducting the affairs of the community since his election as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority.”
