Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) have reconvened in Abuja to discuss the crisis in Niger Republic.
ECOWAS had said it would meet again on Thursday after the
military junta in Niger defied a Sunday deadline on the reinstatement of ousted
President Mohamed Bazoum.
Happening this morning: ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit on the Political Situation in Niger Republic at the State Banquet Hall, Aso Villa, Abuja pic.twitter.com/lGGb5jL4Hg
— Daddy D.O🇳🇬 (@DOlusegun) August 10, 2023
The meeting comes amid uncertainty about the bloc’s possible
military intervention to restore democracy in Niger.
President Bola Tinubu, the ECOWAS chairperson, had vowed to
do everything possible to reinstate Bazoum.
Among the presidents and heads of government attending the
meeting are: President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, President Umaro
Mokhtar Sissoco of Guinea Bissau, President Everiste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, and
President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire.
Others are President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritinia,
President Nana Akofo-Ado of Ghana, President Macky Sall of Senegal and
President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic.
Those yet to arrive are President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé
Eyadéma of Togo and President Adama Barrow of Gambia.
The regional body’s resolve to use force, even as a last
option, has been met with backlash from other foreign countries, global
organisations, and concerned individuals.
Prior to today’s meeting, Tinubu directed the Central Bank
of Nigeria (CBN) to impose financial sanctions on individuals and entities
believed to be supporting the military junta in the Francophone country.
The sanctions and the identities of the individuals affected
were not disclosed.
So far, other sanctions on Niger include the closure of all
land and air borders between ECOWAS member countries and Niger, an 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,
and a halt in the supply of electricity to the landlocked Western African
country.
Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to Tinubu on media and
publicity, said ECOWAS is determined to ensure that democratic rule returns to
Niger Republic, adding that military intervention was not off the table.
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