By Linus Aleke

The Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and Nigerian President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has convened another Extraordinary Summit of the Authority on the political situation in the Republic of Niger.

The meeting was called hours after the expiration of one week ultimatum given to the Niger military junta to reinstate the democratically elected president, Mr. Mohamed Bazoum, or face punitive action.

The Directorate of Communication, ECOWAS Commission, in a statement, on Monday, said the Summit will hold in Abuja, on Thursday, August 10, 2023.

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ECOWAS Leaders, the statement said, will be considering and discussing the political situation and recent developments in Niger during the Summit.

On Sunday July 30, 2023,
the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), announced a one-week ultimatum for coup plotters in Niger to hand over power back to the democratically elected government, following an extraordinary session of the ECOWAS member states, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, in Abuja.

At the meeting, a resolution was reached to impose several sanctions on Niger over the military coup, including possible use of force.

On 26th of July, Amadou Abdramane, a colonel-major, announced the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum from office in a late-night address.

Also, the Defence Chiefs from ECOWAS member states, on 2nd August 2023, held an extraordinary meeting at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, over the same military coup in the Republic of Niger.

At the end of the meeting, the defence chiefs agreed on a possible military action plan, including when and where to strike, if the detained president, Mohamed Bazoum, is not released and reinstated.

The coupists in Niger had also closed its airspace to forestall any possible attack from ECOWAS forces.