The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called a new conference to discuss the Niger Republic coup, as the last deadline for the military junta has passed.
Remember that in August, ECOWAS gathered in Abuja and gave a 7-day deadline for the Niger junta to return ousted President Mohamed Bazoum or face penalties, including possibly military involvement.
However, rather than reinstating the deposed Niger leader, the junta severed ties with Nigeria and some other countries sympathetic to Bazoum’s cause.
The military dictatorship, which named Commander General Abdourahamane Tchiani as the new head of state, has sworn not to yield to foreign pressure.
It also warned against foreign involvement and vowed to safeguard Niger’s territorial integrity.
On Friday, military chiefs from several West African countries announced a plan for possible military action if diplomatic efforts fail.
The summit in Abuja was attended by chiefs of defense from Togo, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Cote D’ivoire, Cabo Verde, and the Republic of Benin.
ECOWAS sent a high-level delegation to mediate peace with the coupists last week, but their representatives met with the team led by former President General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd).
President Bola Tinubu, the chairman of ECOWAS, sent a notice of meeting scheduled for Thursday in Abuja on Monday.
A statement issued by ECOWAS reads, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has convened another Extraordinary Summit of the Authority on the political situation in the Republic of Niger. The Summit will hold in Abuja, on Thursday, August 10, 2023.
“The ECOWAS Leaders will be considering and discussing the political situation and recent developments in Niger during the Summit.”
The coup leaders have not issued any statement on the deadline yet.
