Niger has been going through a political crisis since the end of July. On the 26th of that month, the military council known as the National Council for the Protection of the Nation carried out a coup d’état and announced the removal of President Muhammad Bazoum, who is imprisoned with his family in the presidential palace. The military council also suspended the constitution, eventually forming a government of 21 ministers to lead the transition, and promised to hold elections soon.
Today, the coup army refused entry to a tripartite delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and the United Nations, which was scheduled to meet today in Niamey with the ruling military council. the reason? They consider the mission of ECOWAS “useless” because they “already know the position” of this alliance in the face of financial and trade sanctions imposed by the regional bloc.
The heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African States have already decided to hold a new extraordinary summit, in Abuja, to discuss the situation and the next step, in the scenario of military intervention that could take place after the end of the week that he set last Sunday. The regional bloc said supporters of the coup to restore constitutional order and re-appoint Bazoum to the presidency.
All heads of the West African bloc are participating in this summit, with the exception of Gambia, Liberia and Cape Verde, which sent representatives. The presidents of Burundi and Mauritania, who are not members of the Economic Community of West African States but were invited by the organization, will also participate in the summit. Representatives of Algeria, Libya, the United Nations and the African Union will also participate in the summit.
On the way to this summit, the President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Cissoko Empalo, stated that Mohamed Bazoum “is the only head of state in Niger, despite the military coup.” Empalo still does not know what will happen, and also made it clear that if the armed option is approved, the country will “immediately” convene the National Defense Council of Guinea to analyze its position: whether to send the army or not.
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has argued that “diplomatic negotiations” should be the “cornerstone” of ECOWAS’ approach to dealing with the military junta.
“It is critical that we prioritize diplomatic negotiations and dialogue as the basis of our approach,” said the Nigerian president, who holds the rotating presidency of the Economic Community of West African States.
If there was military intervention, the junta that took power has already claimed to have killed the deposed president, according to Western officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, during a visit by United States Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland to Niamey.
In a statement, on August 3, the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed of the withdrawal of nine of the ten Nigerien nationals, explaining that. Also, “the availability and support of the European partners, in particular the French authorities and the EU Delegation in Niamey, were fundamental to the conclusion of this evacuation operation that allowed the safe departure of citizens and Cape Verdeans from the territory of Niger”.
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