ECOWAS Resumes Deliberations On Niger Crisis In Abuja

Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS), President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, is currently presiding over an Extraordinary Summit of the regional body on the Political Situation in Niger Republic.

The summit, which is holding at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, will be deliberating on developments in neighbouring Niger Republic, particularly on the next line of actions that will follow up on the resolutions and ultimatum issued to the Nigerien junta, which recently sacked the administration of the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

The ECOWAS Authority had during the last Extraordinary Summit, held on July 30, in Abuja, imposed a number of sanctions on Niger, particularly the coupists, and demanded for the immediate release of President Bazoum, his family and members of the his government, who are all being detained by the military.

Reading out the sanctions at the end of that Summit, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, said “the following measures are to be applied with immediate effect. One, closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger. Two, institution of ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger.

“Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member-states and Niger. Freeze all service transactions, including energy transactions. Freeze assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks Freeze of the assets of the Niger state and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks.

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“Suspension of measure from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly, EBID. Call WAMU and all other regional bodies to implement this decision.

“Impose 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”, the Authority said.

Meanwhile, in order to avert the escalation of the crisis and stave off the possibility of an armed intervention, several stakeholders with Nigeria and Niger have been making moves to prevail on both the ECOWAS and the military junta in Niger to approach the situation diplomatically and continue with negotiations.

However, the Abdourahamane Tchiani-led junta, announced a 21-member cabinet, to be led by Ali Mahaman Liman Zeine, who was appointed as Prime Minister by the military.

Presidents of member-states attending the meeting include Julius Maada Bio of Sierra-Leone, Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau, Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Macky Sall of Senegal, Patrice Talon of Benin and Faure Gnassingbe of Togo.

The Gambia and Liberia are member-states being represented by their Ministers of Foreign Affairs

Also attending are Presidents Evariste Ndayishmiye of Burundi and Mohammed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania.

Details later…