The African Union on Tuesday said that it had suspended Niger’s membership in the wake of a military coup, but was yet undetermined on the military option as it continues quest to restore its ousted president. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) may have also refused to accept the Niger military junta’s three-year
The African Union on Tuesday said that it had suspended Niger’s membership in the wake of a military coup, but was yet undetermined on the military option as it continues quest to restore its ousted president.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) may have also refused to accept the Niger military junta’s three-year power transition proposal, but search for a truce continues with more diplomatic shuttles between the Junta and leadership of ECOWAS.
On Tuesday, the General Abdusalam’s committee visited President Tinubu to give its report. The committee recorded major feats being able to meet with leadership of the junta as well as the dethroned former President Bazoum. General Abdulsalam refused to divulge details of what his committee discussed with President Tinubu who is also Chairman of ECOWAS.
It is believed that the junta is adamant on its three-year transition programme but ECOWAS may be seeking a shorter transition along with other conditions including the release of the former President who is still in custody.
The African Union announced that it has decided to suspend the Niger Republic from all of its activities, as well as its Organs and institutions, pending the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country.
According to the African Union’s regulations, the country was also asked to compile a list of coup leaders and civilians who supported the forcible removal of the democratically elected president in order to face the punitive measure.
The AU stated in its statement that “ The Council Reiterated its deep concern over the resurgence of military coups d’état and unequivocally condemned the military coup d’état that took place on 26 July 2023 in Niger. Council welcomed the Final Communique of the Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on the Political Situation in Niger, adopted on 30 July 2023, and the ECOWAS Final Communique of the 2nd Extraordinary Summit on the Political Situation in Niger, adopted on 10 August 2023.
“In line with the relevant AU instruments, Council decided 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. Further, Council called 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 Commission, in close cooperation with the ECOWAS Commission was requested to urgently compile and submit the list of members of the military junta and their military and civilian supporters of the coup d’état in Niger, including those involved in the violation of fundamental human rights of President Bazoum and other detainees for targeted sanctions, and the application of individual punitive measures.
“Lastly the Council urged the military to place the supreme interests of Niger and its people above all else and to immediately and unconditionally return to the barracks, and submit to civilian authorities consistent with the Constitution of Niger”.
The ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musa, had stated on Sunday that the regional economic bloc would not tolerate any delay in the country’s power transition. ECOWAS has imposed trade sanctions on Niger and approved the deployment of a “standby force to restore constitutional order” in Niamey. The economic bloc is hazy about the plan in detail but insists it will intervene if attempts at a diplomatic solution ultimately fail.
The Niger Junta met with ECOWAS delegates led by former Nigerian Head of State General Abdusalami Abubakar for the first time on Saturday, after previously rejecting them, to discuss the diplomatic path forward to resolve the country’s crisis. The delegate also met with the toppled president of the country, Muhamed Bazoum, who has been held hostage since the Junta took over the affairs of the country on July 26th, 2023.
Following the meeting with the representatives of the bloc, the self-styled head of government and leader of the Niger Republic’s military Junta, General Abdourahamane Tiani, insisted on Saturday in a televised broadcast that they would not hand over power to civilians in the next three years.
General Tiani also stated that the Junta was aware of ECOWAS threats to engage in military intervention with them, boasting that such action from the bloc would not be met with friendly action and that the country would be forced to defend itself.
“Our ambition is not to confiscate power. The transition period will not exceed three years; meanwhile, political parties are urged to submit their vision for the transition within 30 days,”
There’s availability for any dialogue, provided that it takes into account the aspirations of the people of Niger. However, any intervention will open a Pandora’s Box and will not be a walk in the park some people seem to think,” the head of the Junta warmed
However, in response to the Junta’s position, Abdel-Fatau Musa stated that the bloc would not accept their proposal, adding that ECOWAS can only tolerate their return to civilian life for a limited time, and that the military option remains on the table.
“Ecowas is not accepting any prolonged transition again in the region. They just have to get ready to hand over in the shortest possible time,” he said.
“The earlier they give power back to civilians and concentrate on their primary responsibility that is defending the territorial integrity of Niger, the better for them”, he said.
Two days prior, the ECOWAS had reaffirmed its willingness to use its standby military force as a last resort to compel the junta to cede power to the civilian government, adding that it would not hesitate to take such action should all diplomatic measures prove unsuccessful.
“Let no one be in doubt that if everything else fails, the valiant forces of West Africa, both the military and the civilian components, are ready to answer to the call of duty,”
