ECOWAS leaders reassemble in Abuja to deliberate on Niger crisis

Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have reconvened in Abuja to discuss the crisis in Niger Republic.

ECOWAS had said it would meet again on Thursday after the military junta in Niger defied a Sunday deadline on the reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

Happening this morning: ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit on the Political Situation in Niger Republic at the State Banquet Hall, Aso Villa, Abuja pic.twitter.com/lGGb5jL4Hg

— Daddy D.O🇳🇬 (@DOlusegun) August 10, 2023

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The meeting comes amid uncertainty about the bloc’s possible military intervention to restore democracy in Niger.

President Bola Tinubu, the ECOWAS chairperson, had vowed to do everything possible to reinstate Bazoum.

Among the presidents and heads of government attending the meeting are: President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, President Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco of Guinea Bissau, President Everiste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, and President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire.

Others are President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritinia, President Nana Akofo-Ado of Ghana, President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic.

Those yet to arrive are President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé Eyadéma of Togo and President Adama Barrow of Gambia.

The regional body’s resolve to use force, even as a last option, has been met with backlash from other foreign countries, global organisations, and concerned individuals.

Prior to today’s meeting, Tinubu directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to impose financial sanctions on individuals and entities believed to be supporting the military junta in the Francophone country.

The sanctions and the identities of the individuals affected were not disclosed.

So far, other sanctions on Niger include the closure of all land and air borders between ECOWAS member countries and Niger, an 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, and a halt in the supply of electricity to the landlocked Western African country.

Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to Tinubu on media and publicity, said ECOWAS is determined to ensure that democratic rule returns to Niger Republic, adding that military intervention was not off the table.