Niger Republic Coup: ECOWAS begins deliberations after Tinubu’s opening speech

The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Heads of State and Governments, who converged on Abuja in a summit focused on the military coup in Niger Republic, have gone into a closed-door session for deliberations.

At the last count, over 12 member-states were present when the ECOWAS Chairman and President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, was making his opening speech.

Those present were President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone; President Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco of Guinea Bissau, and President Everiste Ndayishimiye of Burundi.

Others are President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire, President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania, President Nana Akofo-Ado of Ghana, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic and Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé Eyadéma of Togo.

The Gambia and Liberia are member-states being represented by their Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

Tinubu’s speech

In his opening speech, the ECOWAS’ Chairman, President Tinubu, “During that initial meeting (a July 30 ECOWAS meeting in Abuja) we voiced our solidarity with the people of Niger and their democratically elected President, His Excellency Mohammed Bazoum, by condemning the military takeover and the unjust detention of their democratically-elected President and other officials.

“As you may recall, we called the junta to rescind the decision of them toppling a democratically-elected government.

“We proceeded to impose sanctions with the hope that these resolute measures will serve as a catalyst for the restoration of the constitutional order in Niger.

“Regrettably the seven-day ultimatum we issued during the first summit has not yielded the desired outcome.

“We have also made diligent efforts through deployment of various ECOWAS mediation teams.”

Read Tinubu’s full speech HERE.

The initial meeting Tinubu referred to was an earlier one of July 30 in Abuja, were the ECOWAS Authority imposed a number of sanctions on Niger, particularly the coupists, and demanded for the immediate release of President Bazoum, his family and members of the his government, who are all being detained by the military.

Also, Tinubu sent a delegation headed by former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), to Niamey.

On the entourage were the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Omar Alieu Touray.

Stay with us for details on the ongoing Abuja ECOWAS summit.