August 10, (THEWILL) – Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States, on Thursday, in an extraordinary summit in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, reinstated commitment to restore constitutional order in Niger Republic.
Consequently, it has placed defence chiefs in member states on standby for potential military action if the military junta in Niger fail to release and reinstate the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum.
THEWILL reports that the summit was a follow-up to the one held on Sunday, July 31, 2023. It reviewed ongoing developments in Niger Republic.
ECOWAS had in its last Summit, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the military Junta in Niger to restore constitutional authority in the country.
Rising on Thursday, from its Special Summit, chairman of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, President Bola Tinubu, said the leaders reinstated all the measures earlier agreed to in the July 31 Summit, adding that no option is off the table including the use of force as the last resort in resolving the Niger Republic crisis.
A communiqué read at the end of the Summit, however, condemned the coup and the condition on under which ousted President, Mohamed Bazoum, is being held by the military junta.
The communiqué partly reads, “Direct the committee of the Chief of Defence Staff to activate the ECOWAS stand-by force with all its elements immediately.
“Order the deployment of the ECOWAS stand-by force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
“Underscore its continued commitment to the restoration of constitutional order through peaceful means.”
About the Author
