Nigerian President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday, at the extraordinary meeting of the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said the bloc must prioritise diplomacy in their approach to resolving the crisis in the Republic of Niger.
It could be recalled that ECOWAS held its first session on the development, presided by Tinubu, its chairperson, on July 30, where a resolution was reached to impose several sanctions on Niger over the coup, which include a closure of all land and air borders between member countries and Niger, a freeze of all service and energy transactions and deals with all financial institutions in Niger, a travel ban and an asset freeze of the military officials involved in the coup, among others.
The same sanctions apply to family members of military officials and civilians who accept to participate in any institution or government established by the junta, ECOWAS added.
The bloc said in the event that Bazoum was not reinstated within a week from the first summit, all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in Niger, including the use of force, would be taken.
Tinubu, while addressing African leaders at the second summit, emphasised on its importance to evaluate the effectiveness of the bloc’s interventions and identify any gaps or challenges that may have hindered progress.
He said, “Moreso, in reaffirming our relentless commitment to democracy, human rights, and the well-being of the people of Niger, it is crucial that we prioritize diplomatic negotiations and dialogue as the bedrock of our approach.”
“We must engage all parties involved, including the coup leaders, in earnest discussions to convince them to relinquish power and reinstate President Bazoum.
“It is our duty to exhaust all avenues of engagement to ensure a swift return to constitutional governance in Niger.”
“By remaining steadfast in our adherence to the principles of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law, we can restore peace, stability, and prosperity in the Republic of Niger, thereby fostering an environment conducive to growth and development for all,” he said.
