…African Union Gives 15 Days Ultimatum

Pressures are mounting on the military officers who were in a coup to remove democratically elected government in Niger Republic. West African leaders meeting under the Umbrella body of Economic Community of West African States on Sunday gave the military junta a one week ultimatum to return power to President Mohamed Bazoum , warning they could “use force”, and imposed immediate financial sanctions.

President Bazoum of Niger Republic

ECOWAS also demanded the “immediate release and reinstatement” of elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who is still being held by the military. “In the event the authorities’ demands are not met within one week (ECOWAS will) take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. Such measures may include the use of force. For this effect, the chiefs of defence staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately,” the bloc said in a statement after its summit in Abuja.

ECOWAS announced the “suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger”, which is part of the bloc, as well as halting energy transactions. It said it was freezing Niger’s assets in ECOWAS central and commercial banks and imposing a “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,” said the statement, which was read out at the end of the crisis meeting by Nigerian president and ECOWAS chairman Bola Tinubu.

The leaders of Niger’s military coup said earlier on Sunday that they believed regional body ECOWAS was on the point of staging a military intervention in the capital of the Sahel country.

Speaking ahead of the ECOWAS crisis summit, the junta said: “The aim of this meeting is to approve a plan of aggression against Niger, in the form of an imminent military intervention in Niamey, in cooperation with African countries who are not members of the regional body and certain Western nations.”

The statement was read out on national television on Saturday evening by Amadou Abdramane, a member of the junta which this week ousted President Bazoum and declared itself in charge.

In a communique issued at the end of the Extraordinary Summit on Socio-Political Situation in the Republic of Niger read by the President of ECOWAS Commission,Mr. Omar Touray, the leaders rejected any form of purported resignation by President Bazoum and declared him as the only recognised and elected President of Niger Republic by ECOWAS, the African Union and the international community.

‘‘In this regard, only official acts of President Bazoum or his duly-mandated officials will be recognized by ECOWAS,’’ they said.

The leaders expressed strong condemnation of the attempted overthrow of constitutional order in Niger Republic, and the illegal detention of President Bazoum, as well as members of his family and government.

“The sub regional group demanded the full restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger and considered the illegal detention of President Mohamed Bazoum as a hostage situation, holding the authors of the attempted coup d’état solely and fully responsible for his safety and security and that of his family and government”, the regional organisation stressed.

In the event ECOWAS’ demands are not met within one week, the leaders said they would take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

“Such measures may include the use of force for this effect, the Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately,’’ the leaders said.

ECOWAS leaders also condemned the pronouncement of support by foreign governments and foreign private military contractors, while expressing appreciation to various governments and partners for their stance and solidarity.

The Summit hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, also agreed to appoint and dispatch a Special Representative to deliver the demands of the authority.

In his closing remarks at the Summit, President Tinubu thanked fellow leaders, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office in West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simaõ, for their active engagement and invaluable contributions to the discussions.

‘‘As we come close to this Extraordinary Summit on the socio-political situation in the Republic of Niger, I send my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your active engagement in our open and closed-door meeting.

‘‘Your invaluable contributions to our discussions have got us this far and hopefully, we will achieve our objective.

‘‘The essence of African unity and solidarity is hereby reaffirmed. Our unwavering commitment to democracy, peace and prosperity is hereby resolved.

‘‘Throughout our deliberations, we have recognized that the challenges faced by Niger are interconnected with broader issues affecting our region.
‘‘As African leaders, it is our shared responsibility to foster stability and progress, placing the wellbeing of our people at the forefront of our endeavours, and working together towards their prosperity and happiness must always consistently, be our goals and consistently.

‘‘We will stand with our people in freedom and our commitment to the rule of law and not the barrel of gun. Africa has come of age.

‘‘We reject coup and interruption to constitutional order. Thank you for coming,’’ he said.

Before the Summit, the President also held bilateral meetings with President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau, President Mahmat Iddris Deby Itno of Chad, and Michael Health, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of African Affairs.

Present at the extra -ordinary meeting are Presidents Patrice Talon of Benin Republic, Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire, Adama Barrow of The Gambia, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Embalo of Guinea Bissau, Macky Sall of Senegal, Faure Gnassingbé of Togo while the Presidents of Cape Verde, Liberia, Niger and Sierra Leone were represented.

African Union’s Intervention

Also on Sunday, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), last Friday, announced a 15-day ultimatum for coup plotters in Niger Republic to return to the barracks.

The council asked the “military personnel to immediately and unconditionally return to their barracks and restore constitutional authority, within a maximum period of fifteen (15) days from the date of the adoption of the present Communiqué,” the Council said in its communiqué.

The council did not state what actions would be taken should the coup plotters not return to the barracks after 15 days.

During the meeting convened virtually to discuss the coup in Niger, members expressed deep concern over what they described as an alarming resurgence of military coups d’état which undermine democracy, peace, security and stability in the Continent.

It condemned the coup, reiterating AU’s zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government while asking for the immediate and unconditional release of President Mohamed Bazoum and all other detainees, and respect for human rights, including protection of their physical health and moral integrity.

Additionally, the AUPSC warned that it will take necessary action, including punitive measures against the perpetrators, should the rights of political detainees not be respected.

Members of the presidential guard last Wednesday led by Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, announced they had carried out a coup and closed all West African borders.

The coup follows the continuous deterioration of the security situation and the bad social and economic management, Mr Abdramane said.

The AUPSC also commended ECOWAS and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who convened a meeting on Sunday of ECOWAS heads of states, whose outcome they look forward to.

Reaffirming its solidarity and support for Niger Republic, it said it will work in close coordination with other regional actors.

Although ahead of the Sunday’s summit, the military leaders in Niger Republic on Saturday night warned, in a statement read on Niger national television, against any military intervention.

“The objective of the (ECOWAS) meeting is to approve a plan of aggression against Niger through an imminent military intervention in Niamey in collaboration with other African countries that are non-members of ECOWAS, and certain Western countries,” junta spokesman Colonel Amadou Abdramane said.

“We want to once more remind ECOWAS or any other adventurer, of our firm determination to defend our homeland,” he said.

The junta issued a second statement on Saturday night inviting citizens in the capital to take to the streets from 7 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) to protest against ECOWAS and show support for the new military leaders.

The military coup in Niger has been widely condemned by its neighbours and international partners who have refused to recognise the new leaders and have demanded that Mr Bazoum be restored to power.

Mr Bazoum has not been heard from since early Thursday when he was confined within the presidential palace, although the European Union, France, and others say they still recognise him as the legitimate president.

The European Union and France have cut off financial support to Niger and the United States has threatened to do the same.