The Nigerian Government has said that military action would be the last option in restoring democratic rule in Republic of Niger if diplomacy fails to resolve the impasse.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ibrahim Adamu Lamuwa, disclosed this on Friday while briefing members of the diplomatic corps following the July 26 military coup in Niger Republic.
Ambassador Lamuwa explained that the Nigerian Government and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have intensified diplomatic efforts to persuade the military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani that toppled democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, to restore the president to power.
He stated that “after the military coup led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani in the Republic of Niger on 26th July, 2023 and the illegal detention of the democratically elected and constitutionally installed President Mohamed Bazoum, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his position as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, has led the regional body in efforts aimed at arriving at an agreeable resolution to the crisis.”
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Ambassador Lemuwa said President Tinubu is committed, along with other ECOWAS leaders, to restoring peace and stability to Nigeriens, as well as the right to choose their leaders through transparent and fair elections.
The Permanent Secretary reeled out multiple restrictions the West African bloc had imposed on Niger aimed at putting the ruling junta under pressure, which include: closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger; Institution of ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger; Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger.
Ambassador Lamuwa also noted that ECOWAS extended the sanction to also “freeze of all service transactions including utility services; Freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks; Freeze of assets of Niger and the country’s Enterprises and Parastatals in Commercial Banks.”
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Other sanctions include “suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly, the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and the West African Development Bank (Banque Quest Africaine Du Développement (BOAD)”.
“ECOWAS has also slammed travel bans and asset freeze for the military officials involved in the coup. These sanctions also apply to their family members and the civilians who accept to participate in any institutions or government established by these military Officials,” Ambassador Lamuwa added.
He further added that a team of mediators, led by former Head of state, General Abubakar Abdulsalami, was dispatched to Niger, to actively engage the coup plotters and also convey the absolute displeasure of ECOWAS at subjugation of the Nigerien constitution.
“Other members of the mediating team include the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Said Abubakar III and Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission,” Ambassador Lemuwa added.
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He also confirmed that a separate delegation led by Ambassador Babagana Kingibe was mandated to engage with the leaders of Libya and Algeria on the matter, adding that the objective set by President Tinubu is to ensure a conclusive and amicable resolution of the situation in Niger which is inexorably linked to peace and development in the region.
The authority, also at the Extraordinary Summit on 30 July 2023, mandated a meeting of the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) of ECOWAS.
“The progress report of the meeting will be communicated in short order,” he explained.
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The Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS last Sunday at an emergency meeting in Abuja, Nigeria issued a 7-day ultimatum to the coup leaders to restore democratic order or risk a possible military intervention.
