Worried by the recent coup in Niger Republic resulting in the dissolution of all democratic institutions in that country,President Bola Tinubu will on Sunday host a special meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja.
This is contained in a statement Friday issued by the President ‘s Special Adviser on Special Duties Communications and Strategy,Mr Dele Alake.
On Wednesday morning ,Soldiers seized Mohammed Bazoum, the democratically elected president and barricaded the presidential palace and access roads to the palace.
In the evening of Wednesday,Amadou Abdramane, a colonel-major, in an address,announced the removal of President Bazoum from office .
He dissolved the country’s constitution, suspended all institutions and closed the borders.
On Friday, July 28, the leaders of the coup declared General Abdourahamane Tiani as the new Head of State.
Alake ‘s statement reads:
“Following the coup in Republic of Niger that has upended the constitutional political leadership in the West Africa country, the Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Tinubu will host a special meeting of the regional leaders on Sunday, July 30th in Abuja”
“President Tinubu as Chairman of ECOWAS, in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, condemned the current political situation in the neighbouring country and promised that ECOWAS and the international community he would do everything to defend democracy and ensure democratic governance continues to take firm root in the sub-region.
“US Vice President Kamala Harris and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in separate telephone calls on Thursday evening with President Tinubu affirmed the support of the US and UN for the position taken by ECOWAS and the Nigerian leader to restore constitutional order in Niger.”
ECOWAS had before the coup attempt became full blown, deployed a high – power delegation led by the president of Benin Republic ,Patrice Talon to Niger for mediation..
