Coup: AU Suspends Niger, Abdulsalami Banks On Diplomacy

The African Union (AU) has joined the international community in imposing more pressure on the military junta in Niger Republic as the continental body announced the suspension of the country over the military coup that toppled President Mohammed Bazoum in July.

In a communique issued yesterday, the AU also affirmed its support for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its efforts 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 urged all member states of the AU and the international community, including bilateral and multilateral partners, to reject this unconstitutional change of government and to refrain from any action likely to grant legitimacy to the junta.

The AU further commended the efforts of ECOWAS under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, even as it called on AU Member States to fully implement the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS. The ECOWAS Heads of State and Government had threatened to use force to restore democratic order in the Niger Republic if diplomacy fails, a move that has sent waves of outcry against the idea.

Meanwhile, former Nigerian leader and ECOWAS envoy, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has expressed confidence in the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger, emphasizing the pivotal role of diplomacy.

Abdulsalami disclosed this to State House correspondents yesterday after a meeting convened by ECOWAS chairman, President Bola Tinubu, where discussions with the ousted President of Niger and the junta leaders were on the agenda.

Also at the meeting were the president of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

General Abdulsalami said he had presented the terms outlined by the junta, led by Abdouramane Tchiani, to ECOWAS.

According to him, correspondences had begun between the West African regional bloc and the military in Niger, noting that the line of contact opened by ECOWAS through his appointment as envoy had been very fruitful. He expressed hope that something concrete will soon come out of it.

“As you are aware, the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government have made me an envoy to the Niger Republic and we were there over the weekend to see the military people and discuss finding a way out of the lacuna we find ourselves in.

“I must say that our visit to Niger has been very fruitful and that it has opened an avenue to start talking and hopefully we’ll get somewhere,” he said.

Asked if there was any possibility of avoiding a military action, he said “Hopefully diplomacy will see the better of this. Nobody wants to go to war; it doesn’t pay anybody, but then again, our leaders have said if all fails – and I don’t think all will fail, we’ll get somewhere – we’ll get out of this mess.”