The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ordered the deployment of military forces in Niger in a bid to restore constitutional order in the country.
The regional body has therefore ordered the Chief of Defence Staff Committee to promptly activate its standby force.
Omar Alieu Touray, the president of ECOWAS, delivered the order while reading the resolution adopted during the extraordinary meeting on the Niger coup held on Thursday in Abuja.
The leaders met in Abuja on Thursday to deliberate their course of action after the junta’s seven-day deadline for President Mohamed Bazoum’s reinstatement passed without result.
The regional body said at the meeting that the coup leaders had rejected all efforts made by ECOWAS to negotiate with the Niger junta.
The leaders of ECOWAS also berated President Mohamed Bazoum’s and his family’s ongoing incarceration.
The resolution of the regional bloc reads:
“The Authority, having considered the memorandum presented by the President of the ECOWAS commission on the current situation in the Republic of Niger, as well as ECOWAS engagement since the last extraordinary summit, and having considered the reports of the envoys of the chair to Niger and various other places, carefully considered the report and recommendations of the ECOWAS committee of chiefs of defense staff;
“It extensively discussed the latest developments in Niger since the last extraordinary summit held on July 30, 2023. Noted that all diplomatic efforts made by ECOWAS in resolving the crisis have been defiantly repelled by the military leadership of the Republic of Niger; took note of the expiration of the one-week ultimatum given for the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger; and decided as follows:
“Further condemns the condition in which President Bazoum is being detained and holds the CNSP fully and solely responsible for the safety, security, and physical integrity of President Bazoum, members of his family, and the government.
“Uphold all measures and principles agreed upon by the Extraordinary Summit held in Niger on July 30, 2023.
“Underscore the determination of the ECOWAS authority to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
“Enforce all measures, in particular border closures, strict travel bans, and asset freezes, on all persons or groups of individuals whose actions hinder all peaceful efforts aimed at ensuring the smooth and complete restoration of constitutional order.
“Warn member states who, by their action, directly or indirectly, hindered the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger about the consequences of their action before the community.
“Call on the African Union to endorse all the decisions taken by the ECOWAS authority on the situation in Niger.
“Further call on all partner countries and institutions, including the United Nations, to support ECOWAS in its effort to ensure a quick restoration of constitutional order in conformity with its normative instruments.
“Direct the President of the Commission to monitor the implementation of the sanctions.
“Direct the Committee of the Chief of Defence Staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately. Order the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. Underscore its continued commitment to the restoration of constitutional order through peaceful means.”
