Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, at an extraordinary meeting on Sunday, in Abuja, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Niger Republic military to release and reinstate President Mohammed Bazoum as the legitimate Head of State and government of the landlocked state.
Besides the seven-day ultimatum, the ECOWAS Authority at the Summit also imposed immediate sanctions on Niger, including the closure of land and air borders between member-states and Niger, imposed a no-fly zone on the Niger Republic and suspended all commercial flights to and from Niger, suspended financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger.
Furthermore, assets of the Republic of Niger in the ECOWAS Central Bank, Niger state enterprises, and parastatals in commercial banks will be frozen.
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, called for swift implementation of these resolutions, demanding that the coup plotters “surrender and return to their barracks”.
“Our message is clear and unequivocal: the coup plotters in Niger must surrender, return to their barracks and allow the popular will of the people to stand and thrive without let or hindrance.
“They bear full responsibility for any breakdown of law and order, including the current atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in the country that has arisen from the military takeover.
“The decisions and recommendations made today (Sunday) and their faithful implementation by all, including the unwavering support of the international community, will serve as the bedrock upon which we can build a brighter future for Niger and the entire region,” Tinubu said.
But in a swift reaction, the Niger putschists rejected the call and warned ECOWAS against military intervention, saying, “We want to once more remind ECOWAS or any other adventurer of our firm determination to defend our homeland.”
Nigerien Presidential Guard detained President Bazoum and later declared General Abdourahamane Tchiani as the nation’s new leader.
Tchiani, who has headed the Presidential Guard since 2011, said he was the new “President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.”
The military also issued a warning about “the consequences that will flow from any foreign military intervention,” saying, “Certain dignitaries…are in thinking of confrontation,” which “will end in nothing but the massacre of the Nigerien population and chaos.”