President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, who serves as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, is currently in charge of the regional body’s Extraordinary Summit on the Political Situation in the Niger Republic.
The summit is debating recent events in the Niger Republic and deciding on the next course of action after President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted by the junta at the State House Conference Center in Abuja.
Sanctions were put in place against Niger after the most recent ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit on July 30 in Abuja, specifically against the coup plotters. Demands were made for the military to release President Bazoum, his family, and any other government officials who are presently being held captive.
Omar Touray, the president of the ECOWAS Commission, had read out the sanctions at the conclusion of that summit and stated that “the following measures are to be applied with immediate effect.” The first is the closing of the air and land borders between ECOWAS nations and Niger. Second, all commercial flights to and from Niger will now operate within an ECOWAS no-fly zone.
All business and financial dealings between ECOWAS members and Niger must be suspended. All service transactions, including those involving energy, should be halted. Put Republic of Niger assets in ECOWAS central banks on hold. Assets of the Niger state, as well as those of its parastatals and state-owned businesses, are frozen in commercial banks.
“Suspension of measure from all financial transactions and assistance, especially with EBID. Call on the West African Monetary Union (WAMU) and all other regional organizations to carry out this judgment.
For the military officials involved in the coup attempt, impose a travel ban and an asset freeze. The same holds true for their relatives and any civilians who agree to take part in any institutions or governments set up by these military officials, according to the Authority.
Diverse stakeholders from Nigeria and Niger have been cooperating to push for a diplomatic strategy and ongoing negotiations with both the ECOWAS and the military junta in Niger in an effort to defuse the crisis and prevent any potential armed intervention.
After meeting with President Tinubu on Wednesday, one of the parties involved, former Emir Sanusi, spoke to State House Correspondents and said he went on the peace mission voluntarily because he understood his leadership duties.
Sanusi emphasized that efforts outside of government are necessary to end the crisis.
“I came to inform him of the specifics of my conversations with Nigerian leaders. We’ll keep trying to connect the two sides so that communication is better. This is the time for public diplomacy; we cannot leave this issue to the governments; all Nigerians and Nigeriens must be involved in order to find a solution that benefits Africa, Niger, Nigeria, and humanity as a whole, he said.
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When asked if he was a government representative on the mission, he replied, “No, the government did not send me. Government representatives knew I was going, but I took the initiative to go on my own, using my personal connections, and I’ll keep trying my best. I must carry out that duty as a leader.
However, the military-appointed Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Liman Zeine was to head a 21-member cabinet that was announced earlier today by the junta led by Abdourahamane Tchiani.
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 are among the presidents and heads of government present at the meeting.
Other leaders include Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, President Patrice Talon of the Benin Republic, President Nana Akofo-Ado of Ghana, and Presidents Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania.
Togo’s Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé Eyadéma and The Gambia’s President Adama Barrow are among those who have not yet arrived.
