ECOWAS Sends Gnassingbe, Two Others To Negotiate Niger’s Speedy Return To Democracy With Junta 

The Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, on Sunday sent a three-man negotiation team to mediate in the Niger Republic political crisis.

The ECOWAS Authority, which is chaired by President Bola Tinubu, during the its 64th Ordinary Session, held at the State House Conference Center, Abuja, mandated a team of presidents, including Presidents Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, Macky Sall of Sierra Leone, and Patrice Talon of Benin, to interface with the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), which is the military administration in the country.

This was one of the resolutions contained in the communiqué read in part by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, who explained that the purpose of the interface aims at getting the CNSP and other stakeholders to agree to a short transition roadmap, establishment of transition organs and other goals.

However, it would be recalled that the Abdourahamane Tchiani-led CNSP had about a month ago requested that the President of Togo, Gnassingbe, be put at the head of a team it could negotiate with in resolving the impasse resulting from the coup it led in July, ousting the democratically elected administration of President Mohammed Bazoum.

ECOWAS Authority said the outcomes from the engagement with the CNSP will determine its subsequent resolutions; either to commence the progressive relieving of the imposed sanctions or sustain the sanctions, including the use of force, as well as requests for more actions against the junta from other international bodies.

“On the political situation in the Republic of Niger, the Authority recalled its decision at its extra ordinary summit of 30 July, 2023, and 10th August 2023. On the political situation in the Republic of Niger, the Authority commends the efforts of the Chair of Authority, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, towards a peaceful resolution of the political crisis.

“The Authority deeply deplores the continued detention of President Mohammed Bazoum, his family and associates by the CNSP administration. The Authority further deplores the lack of commitment on the part of the CNSP to restore constitutional order. Consequently, the Authority calls on the CNSP to release President Mohammed Bazoum, his family and associates immediately and without condition.

“The Authority decides to set up a committee of heads of state, made up of the President and Head of State of the Republic of Togo, the President and the Head of State of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the President and Head of State of the Republic of Benin, to engage with CNSP and other stakeholders, with a view to agreeing on a short transition roadmap, establishing transition organs, as well as facilitating the setting up of a transition monitoring and evaluation mechanism towards the speedy restoration of constitutional order.

“Based on the outcomes of the engagement by the committee of heads of state with the CNSP, the Authority will progressively ease the sanctions imposed on Niger. Failure by the CNSP to comply with the outcomes of the engagement with the committee, ECOWAS shall maintain all sanctions, including the use of force and will request African Union and all other partners to enforce the targeted sanctions on members of the CNSP and their associates”, Touray said.

The regional bloc leadership also rejected new moves by external interests to achieve the bulkanization of the region by creating alliances among member-states.

Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, President Bola Tinubu, had spoke about an attempt to distract the efforts at entrenching democratic culture in the region by the creation the Alliance of the Sahel States among military-run member-states.

However, the body, in its communique, said “the Authority rejects all forms of alliances that seek to divide the region and promote foreign interests in the region. The Authority calls on member-states to ensure regional unity of action by strictly adhering to collective decisions taken at the level of the Authority”.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the leaders reiterated their commitment to the eradication of terrorism and other threats to peace, security, and stability in the region.

They also resolved to hold an extraordinary summit on unconstitutional changes of government aimed at promoting peace, security, and democracy in the region.

The ECOWAS leaders directed the commission to embark on deep reflection and explore the possibility of convening the extraordinary summit.

At the meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, the regional leaders commended the efforts being made by member states and the ECOWAS commission to work on the consolidation of democracy, peace, security, and stability in the region.