The regional West African bloc ECOWAS, has approved of a military option to restore constitutional order in NIger Republic “as soon as possible” following last month’s coup, Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara told newsmen as he leaves the second ECOWAS Summit on Niger Coup Thursday.
Consequent to the summit agreement, the President of ECOWAS, Omar Alieu Touray has ordered the regional standby force to move to action.
He also called on the African Union, AU, partner countries and institutions to support the resolution taken by ECOWAS.
Meanwhile, France has immediately given full support to all the conclusions of the West African leaders who on Thursday decided to deploy a standby force to restore Niger’s president Mohamed Bazoum to power, said the French foreign ministry.
Paris “reiterates its firm condemnation of the ongoing attempted putsch in Niger, as well as the sequestration of President Bazoum and his family,” the statement added.
In the United States, Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced support for efforts of the West African bloc ECOWAS on Niger without explicitly backing its call at a summit for military intervention.
“ECOWAS, an organization that brings together West African countries, is playing a key role in making clear the imperative of a return to constitutional order, and we very much support ECOWAS’ leadership and work on this,” he said.
The ECOWAS resolution partly reads: “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; taking note of the expiration of the one week ultimatum given for the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger decide as follows:
A. Reiterates its strong condemnation of the attempted coup d’etat and the continued illegal detention of President Mohammed Bazoam, his family and members of his government
B. Further condemns the condition in which President Bazoum is being detained and hold the CNSP fully and solely responsible for the safety, security and physical integrity of President Bazoum, members of his family and government.
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C. Uphold all measures and principles agreed upon by the extra ordinary Summit held on Niger on 30th July 2023.
D. Underscore the determination of the ECOWAS authority to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
E. Enforce all measures in particular border closures and strict travel bans and assets freeze on all persons or groups of individuals whose actions hinder all peaceful efforts aimed at ensuring the smooth and complete restoration of constitutional order.
F. Warn member states who by their action directly or indirectly, hindered the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger about the consequences for their action before the community.
G. Call on the African Union to endorse all the decisions taken by the ECOWAS authority on the situation in Niger.
H. 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.
I. Direct the President of the Commission to monitor the implementation of the sanctions.
J. Direct the Committee of the chief of defense staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately.
K. Order the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
L. Underscore its continued commitment for the restoration of constitutional order through peaceful means.
