ECOWAS orders deployment of Standby Force to restore constitutional order in Niger

APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS has ordered the deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
The final communique issued after its second Extraordinary Summit on the political situation in Niger in Abuja, Nigeria on Thursday, August 10, 2023, the ECOWAS Leaders underscored their continued commitment to the restoration of constitutional order through peaceful means.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, who presented the communique stated that the ECOWAS Leaders reiterated its strong condemnation of the attempted coup d’état and the continued illegal detention of President Mohamed BAZOUM, his family, and members of his government;
He added that the meeting also condemned the condition in which President Bazoum was being detained and would hold the CNSP fully and solely responsible for the safety, security and physical integrity of President Bazoum and members of his family and Government.
According to him, the Leaders also upheld all measures and principles agreed upon by the extraordinary summit held on Niger on 30th July 2023, while underscoring the determination of the ECOWAS Authority to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis,
He listed the other resolutions as enforcing all measures, in particular, border closure, and strict travel bans and asset 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;
Warning member states who, by their action directly or indirectly, hinder the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger about the consequences for their action before the Community and calling on the African Union to endorse all the decisions taken by ECOWAS on the situation in Niger; And calling on all partner countries and institutions, including the United Nations, to support ECOWAS in its efforts to ensure a quick restoration of constitutional order, in conformity with its normative instruments, while directing the President of the Commission to monitor the implementation of the sanctions and directing the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to immediately activate the ECOWAS Standby Force with all its elements.
The communique also stated that The Authority expresses appreciation to General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar, His Eminence, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe for the special envoy missions undertaken in Niger, Libya and Algeria, on behalf of the Chair of Authority;
“The Authority expresses gratitude to H.E. Bola Ahmed TINUBU, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, for convening the extraordinary session and for the manner in which he has been conducting the affairs of the community as Chair of Authority,” the communique added.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, however, explained that these resolutions were reached after due considerations of the Memorandum presented by the President of the ECOWAS Commission on the current situation in the Republic of Niger, as well as ECOWAS engagement since the last Extraordinary Summit, including the reports of the Special Envoys of the Chair to Niger and various other places, carefully consideration of the Report and Recommendations of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff; extensively discussed the latest development in Niger since the last Extraordinary Summit held on 30th July 2023.
He stated that the ECOWAS Leaders also noted that all diplomatic efforts made by ECOWAS in resolving the crisis had been defiantly repelled by the military leadership of the Republic of Niger and noted the expiration of the one-week ultimatum given for the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
The Summit was attended by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government or their duly mandated representatives and they included: H.E. Patrice TALON, President of the Republic of Benin. • H.E. Alassane OUATTARA, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. • H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO, President of the Republic of Ghana. • H.E. Umaro Sissoco EMBALO, President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau. • H.E. Bola Ahmed TINUBU, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. • H.E. Macky SALL, President of the Republic of Senegal. • H.E. Julius Maada BIO, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. • H.E. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, President of the Togolese Republic. • H.E. Mamadou TANGARA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambian Abroad; • H.E Amb. Dee-Maxwell SAAH KEMAYAH Snr. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia • H.E. Hassoumi Massaoudou, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Niger representing President Mohamed Bazoum • H.E. Belarmino M. SILVA, Ambassador of Cabo Verde to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, the Republic of Cabo Verde.
Others were: ● H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi. ● H.E. Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. ● H.E. Dr Omar Alieu TOURAY, President of the ECOWAS Commission. ● H.E. Leonardo Santos SIMÃO, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Head of UNOWAS. ● H.E. Amb. Adeoye BANKOLE, Commissioner for Peace and Security representing the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
GIK/APA