African Union Slams Suspension On Niger Over Coup

The African Union (AU) has joined the international community to impose more pressure on the military junta in Niger Republic.

In a communique issued on Tuesday, AU announced the suspension of Niger Republic over the military coup that toppled the democratically elected President, Mohammed Bazoum in July.

The AU also affirmed its support for the the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the efforts of the regional bloc to restore democracy in the impoverished West African country.

Part of the communique read, “The AU decides, in line with the relevant AU instruments, in particular, the AU Constitutive Act, the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, to immediately suspend the participation of the Republic of Niger from all activities of the AU and its Organs and institutions until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country.

“The AU in this regard, calls upon all Member States of the AU and the international community including bilateral and multilateral partners, at large to reject this unconstitutional change of government and to refrain from any action likely to grant legitimacy to the illegal regime in Niger.

“The AU commends the efforts of ECOWAS under the leadership of H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and calls on AU Member States to fully implement the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS and endorsed by the PSC and requests the Commission, in consultation with ECOWAS, to regularly inform the Council on the progress being made on the implementation of the imposed sanctions.”

The ECOWAS Heads of State and Government had threatened to use force to restore democratic order in Niger Republic if diplomacy fails, a move that has sent waves of outcry against the proposed military intervention.