By Linus Aleke
The President of Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Dr. Omar Touray, has revealed that all Chiefs of Defense Staff of the member states, will proceed for an emergency meeting to strategise on effective ways to implement a possible military operation to restore Bazoum to office.
The meeting is aimed at putting together, a kinetic approach, that will be activated if the military junta failed to comply with the directive by ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, had on Sunday issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Nigerien military to restore constitutional order and reinstate ousted President Muhammed Bazoum into office.
The planned kinetic operations is part of decisions at the extraordinary meeting of leaders of ECOWAS member-states at the State House, Abuja, to discuss the happenings in Niger Republic.
The sub regional bloc also imposed land and border closures, as well as suspend all commercial flights between Niger and ECOWAS member states.
The Commission’s President said the ECOWAS will take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
Such measures, he revealed may include the use of force.
“To this effect, the Chiefs of Defense Staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately,” he said.
Announcing economic sanctions, Touray said ECOWAS has approved the “Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger. Freeze all service transactions including energy transactions. Freeze assets of the Republic of Niger in Aqua Central Bank. Freeze of assets of the Niger State and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks. Suspension of measure from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID”.
On Friday, members of Niger’s Presidential Guard who perpetrated the coup named General Abdourahamane Tchiani as the nation’s new leader.
Tchiani, who has headed the Presidential Guard since 2011, said Wednesday’s coup is the military’s response to “the degradation of the security situation” linked to jihadist bloodshed.
The military also issued a warning about “the consequences that will flow from any foreign military intervention,” saying, “Certain dignitaries…are in thinking of confrontation,” which “will end in nothing but the massacre of the Nigerien population and chaos.”
However, the Authority of Heads of State and Government, recalled the principle of zero tolerance for unconstitutional change of government as enshrined in the ECOWAS and African Union Protocols and other
instruments.
The leaders after the Abuja extraordinary meeting resolve as follows:
“a. Affirm that His Excellency President Mohamed BAZOUM remains the legitimate elected President and Head of State of The Republic of Niger
recognized by ECOWAS, the African Union and the International
community; In this regards, only official acts of President Bazoum or his duly mandated officials will be recognized by ECOWAS;
b. Condemn in the strongest terms the attempted overthrow of constitutional order in Niger and the illegal detention of His Excellency President Mohamed Bazoum, President and Head of State of Niger, as well as members of his family and Government;
c. Call for the immediate release and reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum as President and Head of State of the Republic of Niger, and for the full restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger;
d. Reject any form of resignation that may purportedly come from His Excellency President Mohamed Bazoum;
4e. Consider the illegal detention of President Bazoum as a hostage situation and hold the authors of the attempted coup d’état solely and fully responsible for the safety and security of His Excellency President
Mohamed Bazoum, as well as members of his family and Government;
f. In the event the Authority’s demands are not met within one week, take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. Such measures may include the use of force; To this effect, the Chiefs of defense staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately; Hold accountable all those responsible for violence and terror against lives
and properties of innocent citizens and residents; h. Condemn the pronouncement of support by foreign governments and
foreign private military contractors; i. Express appreciation to the various governments and partners for their stance and solidarity with ECOWAS;
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j. Appoint and dispatch a special representative of the Chair of the Authority to Niger immediately to deliver the demands of the Authority; k. In the meantime, the following measures are to be applied with immediate
effect: 1. Closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger; 2. Institution of ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger; Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger; Freeze of all service transaction including utility services; Freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks; Freeze of assets of the Niger State and the State Enterprises and Parastatals in Commercial Banks;
Suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly, EBID and BOAD; Travel ban and asset freeze for the military officials involved in the coup attempt.
“The same applies to their family members and the civilians who accept to participate in any institutions or government established by these military officials; Calls on WAEMU and all other regional bodies to implement this decision.
Express appreciation to His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the manner in which he has been conducting the affairs of the community since his election as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority”.
