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Leaders from the West African bloc have convened for a second emergency summit to address the coup in Niger, as the country’s military leaders have disregarded an ultimatum to reinstate the duly elected president.
Numerous West African leaders, among them the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Bola Tinubu, gathered in Abuja, the political capital of Nigeria, on Thursday.
Notable attendees included representatives from the United Nations and the African Union.
Taking the helm, Tinubu inaugurated the exceptional assembly and underscored the profound implications of the coup in neighboring Niger on democratically established governments within the sub-region.
He emphasized the urgency of placing diplomatic negotiations and dialogue with the Nigerien junta at the forefront of our priorities.
He stated, “Furthermore, as we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to democracy, human rights, and the welfare of the people of Niger, it is of paramount importance that we prioritize diplomatic negotiations and dialogue as the foundation of our approach. We must earnestly engage all relevant parties, including the leaders of the coup, in meaningful discussions aimed at persuading them to relinquish control and reinstate President Bazoum. Our responsibility entails exhausting all avenues of engagement to swiftly reinstate constitutional governance in Niger.
“More precisely, as leaders of our respective nations, we must acknowledge that the ongoing political crisis in Niger not only jeopardizes the nation’s stability but also carries far-reaching implications for the entire West African region.
“By unwaveringly upholding the tenets of democracy, sound governance, and the supremacy of law, we have the potential to reestablish tranquility, stability, and prosperity in the Republic of Niger. This, in turn, will create an environment conducive to holistic growth and development for all.”
Following Tinubu’s discourse, the meeting transitioned into a closed-door session.
Two weeks following the coup that ousted Mohamed Bazoum, who had taken office in 2021, ECOWAS has affirmed its pursuit of a diplomatic resolution, while keeping the option of employing force to address the ongoing crisis open.
Crucial decisions are anticipated from the current assembly in Abuja.
Struggling to curtail a series of coups within its member states since 2020, the organization granted the faction that seized control on July 26 a deadline until the previous Sunday to reinstate 63-year-old Bazoum, or else face the potential application of force.
In addition to economic sanctions such as border closures, Nigeria has taken the step of discontinuing electricity supply to its neighboring country.
However, the leaders of the coup remained steadfast in their defiance, and the deadline came and went without any decisive action.
