APA – Niamey (Niger) – The pan-African institution is in locked steps with the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) in the search of a diplomatic solution to the post-coup crisis in Niger.
The African Union says it is suspending Niger’s membership over last month’s coup which removed President Mohamed Bazoum.
Following an initial meeting at the end of which the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), which staged the 26th July coup, was given a two-week ultimatum to reinstate President Bazoum, the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) has just revealed its new position on the prevailing situation in Niger.
Acting “pursuant to article 7 of its protocol,” the PSC decided at its meeting on 14 August to “immediately” suspend Niger from its membership until constitutional order is restored in the Sahelian country.
The AU PSC also “welcomes” the communiqués issued at the extraordinary sessions of Ecowas on 30 July and 10 August on the situation in Niger.
The PSC says it had taken note of Ecowas’s decision to deploy a standby force and asked the AU Commission to assess the “economic, social and security implications of the deployment and report back to the council.”
The PSC also “welcomes and strongly supports the tireless efforts of ECOWAS and calls on the Commission to appoint a high representative to encourage ECOWAS’s mediation efforts.”
Last Saturday, the regional organisation sent a delegation to Niamey led by former Nigerian president, Abdusalami Abubakar in a last-ditch effort to restore constitutional order before resorting to military action to reinstate Mr Bazoum.
The delegation met the head of the junta, General Abdourahamane Tiani, and the deposed president, who is still being held together with his family in the presidential residence since the night of 26 July.
Nothing has come of the talks, APP has learnt.
In a statement to the nation on Saturday evening, General Tiani called for dialogue and announced a transition that would last for three years.
Ecowas has rejected this proposal.
AC/fss/as/APA