Currently, eleven of the sixteen Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government are engaged in a closed-door session during an extraordinary meeting convened to address the recent military coup in Niger Republic.
The summit, taking place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, focuses on assessing the unfolding situation in neighboring Niger Republic. The central agenda involves determining the next steps following the resolutions and ultimatum issued to the Nigerien junta, which ousted democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
Recall that two weeks ago, the ECOWAS Heads of State had instructed the military junta in Niger to reverse their actions and reinstate President Muhamad Bazoum, who had been democratically elected.
The ECOWAS body set a seven-day ultimatum for the military junta to vacate power and reinstate the deposed President Bazoum. This ultimatum has since lapsed.
ECOWAS made it clear that failure to comply with the ultimatum would result in various sanctions, including potential military interventions against the junta.
Present at the Old Banquet Hall in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for this extraordinary meeting are key leaders, including ECOWAS Chairman and President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu; President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone; President Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco of Guinea Bissau; and President Everiste Ndayishimiye of Burundi.
Other attending leaders comprise 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.
While The Gambia and Liberia are represented by their respective Ministers of Foreign Affairs, self-declared military ruler of Niger Republic is also so represented through a proxy.
The participating heads of state are deliberating on strategies to address the ongoing political crisis in Niger Republic.