![Niger army spokesman Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane speaks during an appearance on national television, after President Mohamed Bazoum was held in the presidential palace in Niamey, Niger, July 26, 2023 [ORTN via Reuters TV]](https://manoreporters.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Niger-coup-leaders.webp)
The new military junta in Niger has one week to reinstate deposed President Mohamed Bazoum or face military action, the sub regional grouping, ECOWAS said on Sunday.
ECOWAS leaders issued the ultimatum after an emergency meeting in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. The 51st Summit of the Authority of Heads of State was summoned in response to the coup that ousted President Bazoum on Wednesday, July 26, following two days of mutiny by a section of the Nigerien army.
The leaders in a communique issued at the end of the summit said they recognize only Bazoum as the legitimate head of state of Niger.
“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,” the communique reads in part, adding: “In this regards, only official acts of President Bazoum or his duly mandated officials will be recognized by ECOWAS.”
President Bazoum, in office since 2021, was accused by the military of failing to handle the country’s security and economic challenges.
His exact location is currently unknown to the public since he was detained by the junta, which is headed by the head of the Presidential Guard, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane.
The ECOWAS leaders said they considered the detention of the president as an illegal act and a hostage situation, warning that the coupists will be held responsible for his safety and security.
Among several demands, the West African heads of state ordered the military leaders to release the president from detention, reinstate him as president and restore full constitutional order in Niger.
“In the event the Authority’s demands are not met within one week, [ECOWAS will] take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. Such measures may include the use of force,” they said.
According to the communique, the heads of state also imposed immediate measures geared towards curtailing the influence of the junta, including the closure of land and air borders between all ECOWAS countries and Niger, the institution of an ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger, and suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger.
Niger is also suspended from accessing any financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions of the bloc.
The West African leaders also announced the imposition of travel ban and asset freeze on all members of the junta, their family members and any civilian who work with them in any capacity.
A meeting of the Chiefs of defense staff of member countries has been summoned with immediate effect, according to the communique, apparently to plan for any possible military action.
The ECOWAS leaders also announced the appointment of a special representative of the Chair of the Authority who will be dispatched immediately to deliver the demands of the bloc to the junta leaders.
This move by ECOWAS demonstrates Nigerian President Bola Ahmad Tinubu’s expressed position of zero tolerance to unconstitutional rule as chairman of the sub regional bloc.
Mr Tinubu took over the mantle of chairmanship at the 63rd Ordinary Summit of the bloc’s heads of states in Bissau the capital of Guinea Bissau on July 9.
Eight heads of statement and government attended Sunday’s meeting in Abuja, among them Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, and the leaders of Gambia, Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Benin, and Guinea Bissau.
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio was represented by the country’s High Commissioner to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Rupert Davies, while President George Weah of Liberia was represented by Sn, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dee-Maxwell Soah Kemayah.
Other regional and international high profile representatives at the summit are the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General For West Africa and the Sahel and Head of UNOWA, Leonardo Santos Simao. Both organizations have joined ECOWAS and other foreign governments in condemning the coup.
The US State Department issued a statement shortly after the ECOWAS heads of state position was announced on Sunday, endorsing it.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said the US “welcomes and commends the strong leadership” of ECOWAS to defend constitutional order.
“We join ECOWAS and regional leaders in calling for the immediate release of President Mohamed Bazoum and his family and the restoration of all state functions to the legitimate, democratically-elected government,” he said in the statement.
The US, alongside France, Italy and other European countries, maintain troops in Niger, as part of the global fight against Islamist insurgents in the Sahel region.
