The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has planned a new meeting to discuss the coup in the Niger Republic now that the military junta’s initial deadline has passed.
Recall that at the ECOWAS summit in Abuja, the Niger junta was given a seven-day deadline to restore the position of expelled President Mohamed Bazoum or face consequences, including potential military involvement.
The new head of state, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, swore not to yield to external pressure. It also forbade outside interference and vowed to protect Niger’s territorial integrity.
A strategy for potential military involvement in the event diplomatic efforts fail was approved, according to military commanders of various West African nations on Friday.
In retaliation, the junta severed connections with Nigeria and other nations that supported Bazoum’s cause. The military government announced their Commander.
The summit was conducted in Abuja and was attended by the chiefs of defence staff from Togo, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Cote D’Ivoire, Cabo Verde, and the Republic of Benin. Last week, ECOWAS dispatched a powerful mission to mediate a settlement with the coup plotters, but General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s (rtd.) team met with them.
The ECOWAS meeting notification for this Thursday in Abuja was delivered on Monday by President Bola Tinubu, who also serves as the organization’s chairman.
The notice in part reads
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has convened another Extraordinary Summit of the Authority on the political situation in the Republic of Niger. The Summit will hold in Abuja, on Thursday, August 10, 2023. The ECOWAS Leaders will be considering and discussing the political situation and recent developments in Niger during the Summit.”
The leaders of the coup have not yet made a declaration regarding the deadline.
