The Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the coup in Niger Republic, warning the mutineers that they will be held responsible for the life of President Mohamed Bazoum who is been held at the Presidential Palace.
The Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, and Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also condemned the coup plot warning the plotters that African and the rest of the world will hold them to account.
In a statement from ECOWAS headquarters in the Abuja, Nigeria, the sub region stated: “ECOWAS has received the news of an attempted coup in Niger with shock and consternation. ECOWAS condemns in the strongest terms the attempt to seize power by force and calls on the coup plotters to free the democratically elected president of the Republic immediately and without any condition. ECOWAS and the international community will hold all those involved in the plot responsible for the security and safety of the president, his family, members of his government, and the general public”. The letter is dated July 26, 2023.
In the same vein, President Tinubu has reacted to the uncertain political development in neighbouring Niger Republic. Tinubu, in a statement, said that his government is monitoring development in the tiny West African country.
Information filtering in from the Republic of Niger indicates some unpleasant developments around the country’s highest political leadership.
It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country.
The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa.
I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region.
I am in close consultation with other leaders in our region, and we shall protect our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism.
As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order”.
Mohamed Bazoum, ,63, a closed ally of France, came to power in April, 2021. Basking on a glorious attainment of power, in the midst of chronic poverty, but with strong and unalloyed loyal support from its closest neighbours, particularly Nigeria, through a vibrant Joint Commission, Bazoum sailed through unscathed in his first year presidency in 2022.
Things started fallen apart early 2023, till today. His closed Presidential guards have barricaded his palace and detained him, indicating all the hallmarks of a coup detat in the making. The Niger army has called on the Presidential guards to back off, but they are still adamant, with the President still in detention. ECOWAS, AU and Foreign bodies have all condemned today’s coup…
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