By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it would consider the use of force to restore democratic structure in the troubled Niger after the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum by coup plotters who are member of presidential guard.
The Authority therefore issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Commander of the Niger’s presidential Guards, General Abdourahamane Tchiani who had on Friday, declared himself the Head of a Transitional Government to quit.
The decisions were reached on Sunday in Abuja, Nigeria after an extraordinary session of the Authority presided over by the ECOWAS Chairman, President Bola Tinubu.
The ECOWAS bloc says it recognises Bazoum as the legitimate President of Niger.
It went ahead to announce the imposition of land border closures and suspension of all commercial flights between Niger Republic and ECOWAS member states till the military authorities hand over power to the civil authority.
All Chiefs of Defence Staff of the member states will proceed for an emergency meeting to strategize on effective ways to implement a possible military operation to restore Bazoum to office, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray while conveying the decision announced.
He added that the ECOWAS will “Take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. Such measures may include the use of force.
“To this effect, the Chiefs of Defense staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately.”
ECOWAS has equally approved the “Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Asia. Freeze all service transactions including energy transactions.
“Freeze assets of the Republic of Niger in Aqua Central Bank. Freeze of assets of the Niger State and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks.
“Suspension of measure from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID”, he noted while reeling out the economic sanction slammed on the Sahel country over forceful removal from office a democratically elected President.
President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, Alassane Ouattara of Cote D’Ivoire, Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Patrice Talon of Benin, and President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana were among those present at the Abuja meeting.
