Omar Touray, president of the Economic Community of West
African Commission (ECOWAS), says the decision of the regional body to deploy
standby military troops in the Niger Republic does not translate to a country
fighting another.
After its second extraordinary meeting held in Abuja on
Thursday, ECOWAS directed the deployment of standby military troops to restore
constitutional order in the francophone country.
The decision to deploy force comes days after the military
junta in Niger defied the ECOWAS deadline to reinstate ousted President Mohamed
Bazoum.
Speaking during a press conference at the end of the sit-down to explain ECOWAS’ position, Touray reiterated that the bloc has been engaging in peaceful and diplomatic efforts to effect the restoration of constitutional order in Niger.
“May I use this
opportunity to say one thing and one thing alone? This is ECOWAS, made up of 15
member countries, as you have seen, who’ve met and decided on the way forward
on this matter,” Touray said.
“It is not one country against another country. It is not
the community against one country, the community has its instruments to which
all members have subscribed and it is now up to the heads of state and
incumbent upon them to make sure the provisions of the various instruments are
applied and implemented.
“So let us look at this as a community initiative, a
community action, not an individual country going against another country, and
ECOWAS is not going against ECOWAS citizens. ECOWAS is trying to implement
principles of the community that we have all subscribed to. That is very
important.
“There is a lot of information
out there, trying to present this as one country against another country. That
is not the situation and the leaders have made it clear that they are taking
responsibility and acting in accordance with their own plans and intentions.
“It is not that we have anything against any country or any
people, this is a regional position. Please let us send that message out. This
is a regional position, it is not one country against another.
“So I think we should put the blame on those people who have
taken the initiative to remove a constitutionally elected head of state.
“We have all agreed to abide by the constitutional order,
abide by the constitutional rule, so when constitutional order is broken, there
are consequences and that is what the heads of state are trying to apply.”
Asked why the body was insisting on using force when Niger
citizens are opposed to it, he said: “I think the communiqué is very clear; the
window for the restoration of constitutional order through peaceful means
remains open.
“Nobody should consider this as the only option opened to
ECOWAS. ECOWAS has been engaged in peaceful and diplomatic efforts to effect
the restoration of constitutional order in Niger and the communiqué has made it
very clear; the authority has kept that window open.”
On mobilisation of the standby force and funding, Touray
said “appropriate measures are being taken”.
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