President Bola Tinubu convened a meeting on Tuesday with Omar Touray, the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, and former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar at the Aso Villa.
The objective of the meeting was to address the recent coup in neighboring Niger Republic. The gathering also included the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Nuhu Ribadu.
Abdulsalami, who led an ECOWAS delegation to Niger over the weekend, engaged in “final” negotiations concerning the restoration of power to deposed President Mohamed Bazoum. In his capacity as ECOWAS chairperson, Abdulsalami is expected to provide President Tinubu with a comprehensive briefing on the outcomes of the discussions with the junta leaders.
The coup in Niger, orchestrated by coup leader Abdourahamane Tiani, proposed a three-year timeline for the junta to transition back to civilian rule. However, this proposal was met with resistance from ECOWAS. Consequently, the African Union has suspended Niger Republic due to the ongoing situation.
The coup, which transpired on July 26, prompted ECOWAS to consider employing force as a last resort to reinstate democracy in Niger, leading to the activation of a “standby force.” While ECOWAS remains committed to diplomatic solutions, it is prepared to take action if necessary.
The coup’s reverberations have extended beyond Niger’s borders, raising concerns about the escalating jihadist insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group in the Sahel region. This coup marks the fourth instance of political upheaval in West Africa since 2020, following similar incidents in Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali.
Both Burkina Faso and Mali’s coup leaders have issued stern warnings, declaring that any external military intervention in Niger would be construed as a “declaration of war” against their respective nations.
This recent coup is the fifth in Niger’s history since achieving independence from France in 1960. The election of Mohamed Bazoum in 2021 was a pivotal moment, marking the country’s first successful transition of power. In the aftermath of the coup, concerns have arisen regarding the well-being and conditions of detention for President Bazoum and his family, who have been confined to the presidential residence.
