There is rising anxiety in the Republic of Niger following the resolution by ECOWAS leaders to activate a standby military force for a possible invasion of the country following the new military junta’s failure to restore the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to office.
Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Tinubu, has affirmed the regional bloc’s steadfast commitment in supporting the people of Niger’s journey towards peace and democratic stability.
In his closing remarks at the 2nd Extraordinary Summit on the socio-political situation in Niger Republic yesterday in Abuja, President Tinubu expressed his appreciation of member states’ dedication toward all efforts towards resolving the challenges of Niger.
Tinubu, in a statement by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, stressed that the remarkable outcome of the summit, which authorised the deployment of ECOWAS standby troops to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger, attests to the power of collaboration and unity among ECOWAS member states.
“We have reaffirmed our commitment to the people of Niger and to the progress of our entire ECOWAS Community. We will continue with that. From the Communiqué of this extraordinary summit, no option is taken off the table, including the use of force as the last resort. If we don’t do it, no one else will do it for us.
“We remain steadfast in supporting Niger in a journey towards peace and democratic stability.
“The road ahead will undoubtedly have challenges, but I firmly believe that with our collective resolve, we can navigate these obstacles and chart a path towards peace and prosperity for Nigeriens and citizens of ECOWAS,” the ECOWAS Authority chairperson stated.
At the end of the summit, the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State had issued a unanimous directive to restore constitutional order in Niger.
An official communiqué read by Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, said the leaders directed the Committee of the Chiefs of Defence Staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately.
The leaders also issued a stern warning to member states whose actions, whether direct or indirect, impede the peaceful resolution of the Niger crisis.
The communiqué emphasised that such actions would entail consequences within the ECOWAS community.
Showing its continued commitment to restoring constitutional order through peaceful means, the leaders said all diplomatic efforts made by ECOWAS in resolving the crisis have been repelled at various intervals by the military rulership of the Republic of Niger.
As the one-week ultimatum for the restoration of constitutional order expired, the ECOWAS Authority, among others, underscored its determination to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis and enforced all measures, in particular, border closures and strict travel bans as well as asset freezes on all persons or groups of individuals whose actions hinder all peaceful efforts aimed at ensuring the smooth and complete restoration of Niger’s constitutional order.
Niger Military Junta Consolidates, Forms New Gov’t
Furthermore, the West African leaders called on the African Union to endorse their decisions on the Niger crisis while also urging partner countries and institutions, including the United Nations, to support ECOWAS in its effort to ensure a quick restoration of constitutional order in the Niger Republic.
The president of the ECOWAS Commission was further tasked with overseeing the implementation of sanctions stemming from the initial Extraordinary meeting in Abuja.
Defiant Niger Junta Forms New Government
Meanwhile, the military junta that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger Republic has moved to consolidate their hold on power as the soldiers led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani have formed a new government in defiance of sanctions and threats issued against them.
Following a decree promulgated on national television yesterday, the junta leaders declared that Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine will lead the 21-member government, with generals from the new military governing council heading the defence and interior ministries.
CAN To President: Avoid Enmity Between Nigeria, Niger
The leadership of Christians in Nigeria, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu not to create enmity between the people of Nigeria and Niger Republic, instead, dialogue and not military force should be used to restore the constitutional regime in Niger.
CAN in a statement signed by its president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, commended President Tinubu and the Authority of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government for their unwavering commitment to discouraging coups d’état and the forceful takeover of power.
The Christian body also applauded their commendable efforts in resolving the crisis currently faced by their neighbours in the Republic of Niger, saying that they firmly believe that the path to lasting peace lies in upholding democratic processes, respecting the sovereignty of nations, and engaging in peaceful dialogue to address grievances and resolve conflicts.
“We applaud President Ahmed Tinubu for adopting a diplomatic approach in addressing the crisis by sending a high-level delegation, led by the eminent statesman General Abdulsalam Abubakar, to engage with the Nigerien authorities.
“This diplomatic overture demonstrates President Tinubu’s commitment to peaceful dialogue and his belief in the power of constructive engagement to foster understanding and resolve conflicts.
“Furthermore, we commend the inclusion of the esteemed Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, in the delegation. This representation showcases the unity of purpose and the collaborative spirit of Nigerian leaders, transcending religious and ethnic boundaries to jointly pursue peace in our region.
“CAN also commends the notable efforts of other prominent leaders, who have engaged with the Nigerien authorities in their personal capacities, leveraging his private contacts. Their wisdom, experience, and counsel will undoubtedly contribute to the resolution of the crisis in Niger and the restoration of peace and stability in the region,” Okoh stated.
The Christian body further implored all stakeholders involved in the matter to embrace peaceful negotiations, exercise restraint, and tirelessly work towards a sustainable resolution of the crisis in Niger.
Niger Coup d’état: Jega, Agwai, Uwais, Bugage Write Tinubu, Raise Concern Over Measures
A group of prominent Nigerians has joined the federal government and West African leaders and people in condemning the July 2 coup in the Republic of Niger.
The group, in an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also praised the immediate steps he had taken as chair of Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in the form of statements, communiqués, missions and consultations with regional, continental, and world leaders for the immediate restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
The open letter signed by AB Mahmoud, SAN, Prof Jibrin Ibrahim, Gen (rtd) M L Agwai, Prof Attahiru Jega, Prof M J Kuna, Dr Kole Shettima, Dr. Hussaini Abdu, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, Kabiru Adamu, Moufta’u Baba Ahmed, Dr. Usman Bugaje and Dr. Yahya Hashim, for a group of Concerned Nigerians, firmly supported the principle of Zero tolerance for unconstitutional change of government as enshrined in the ECOWAS and African Union Protocols and other instruments.
The group expressed its understanding of the factors that led to the very strong measures in terms of sanctions, economic blockade and the possible use of force in re-establishing constitutional order, and said President Mohamed Bazoum remains the legitimate elected President and Head of State of the Republic of Niger recognised by ECOWAS, the African Union and the international community.
However, the group observed that Niger is a very dear, brotherly and supportive neighbour to Nigeria and its people, and measures taken should not be allowed to harm the Nigerien people.
“The cutting off of electricity supply to Niger, breaking a longstanding treaty obligation, may ultimately harm our national interest, especially within the perspective of the Kandadji dam currently under construction by the Nigerien Government.
“The apparent rising wave of popular support for the putschists might create a situation in which the role of Nigeria is seen as being at variance with the interest of the Nigerien people and in support of external interests”.
The concerned citizens in the open letter also averred that, already, there is an orchestrated campaign in the social and traditional media portraying Nigeria in a negative light as an agent of France and the United States.
It further stated that the strong presence of French, American and to a lesser extent Italian security personnel and assets, including a large US drone base, creates a situation that could easily transform an intervention for the restoration of democracy into a complex proxy war fought out by foreign interests engaged in the new geopolitical repositioning of world powers.
“In this regard, the current security challenges of insecurity around the Boko Haram insurgency, farmer-herder conflicts, banditry and mass kidnapping might all be exacerbated as the flow of arms, violent extremism and armed banditry spread and deepen in our sub-region.”
They noted that Nigeria has a serious humanitarian crisis, with millions of internally displaced persons and hundreds of thousands of refugees including in Niger, saying it is important to prevent the worsening of the humanitarian crisis.
The group therefore urged the president to create conditions for the restoration of Track 1as well as Track 2 diplomacy by making a gesture to the putschists through measures such as the withdrawal of the threat of use of force.
They urged the president to provide assurances to the Nigerien people of Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining friendship and fraternal relations with the government and people of Niger.
The also reiterated their collective resolve towards the full restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
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