The members of ECOWAS, on Sunday, issued a 7-days ultimatum to the junta in Niger to reinstall the country’s democratically elected president Muhammed Bazoum and restore constitutional order.
The ultimatum followed an extraordinary meeting of leaders of ECOWAS member-states at the State House, Abuja, to discuss the happenings in Niger Republic.
Recall that the Commander of the country’s Presidential Guards, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, had on Friday, declared himself the Head of a Transitional Government.
At the meeting, the Authority acknowledged Mohamed Bazoum as the legitimate President of Niger, and imposed land border closures and suspension of commercial flights between Niger and other ECOWAS member states.
This was announced by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, who said the chiefs of defense staff of the member states will meet to discuss military options for restoring Bazoum to office.
He added that the the ECOWAS will “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.”
On economic sanctions against the Nigeria’s northern neighbour, Touray said that ECOWAS has approved the “Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Asia. 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.”
leaders present at the meeting includes; President Bola Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the commission, Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, Alassane Ouattara of Cote D’Ivoire and Faure Gnassingbe of Togo.
Others are President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Patrice Talon of Benin, and President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana.
Cape Verde and Liberia are being represented by their Foreign Affairs Ministers.