The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has vowed to return democracy government in the country.
It had issued a seven-day ultimatum for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum to avoid possible clash with the junta.
On July 26, Niger’s ousted leader, Bazoum was detained by members of the Presidential Guard, and that evening, the military announced that it had seized power.
Two days after toppling the government of Bazoum, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, the commander of Niger’s presidential guard, declared himself the head of a transitional government.
Pressure continues to mount on the military junta from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore democratic order to the country.
Beyond the West African region, members of the international community have also vehemently opposed the new military government in the country.
However, a seven-point strategy by the regional bloc has been revealed in a request by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who doubles as the Chairperson of ECOWAS to the Nigerian Senate on Friday.
The president said:
Following the unfortunate political situation in Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of its President, ECOWAS under my leadership condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved to seek the return of the democratically elected govt. in a bid to restore peace, ECOWAS convened a meeting and came out with a communique.
1. Closure and monitoring of all land borders with Niger Republic and reactivating of the border drilling exercise.
2. Cutting off Electricity supply to Niger Republic
3. Mobilizing international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communique
4. Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic
5. Blockade of goods in transit to Niger especially from Lagos and eastern seaports
6. Embarking on sensitization of Nigerians and Nigerians on the imperative of these actions particularly via social media
7. Military build up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant.
