ECOWAS Fixes Fresh Meeting On Niger Republic As Deadline Elapses

The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has scheduled another summit for Thursday, August 10, to discuss the political development in Niger Republic.

Naija News reports that President Bola Tinubu, who is chairman of ECOWAS, made this known on Monday in a statement issued by the regional body.

The statement said the ECOWAS Chairman sent a notice of the meeting to all Heads of Government to attend the crucial meeting scheduled to hold in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The statement reads: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has convened another Extraordinary Summit of the Authority on the political situation in the Republic of Niger. The Summit will hold in Abuja, on Thursday, August 10, 2023.

“The ECOWAS Leaders will be considering and discussing the political situation and recent developments in Niger during the Summit.”

Recall that the regional body had met in Abuja in August and issued a 7-day deadline for the Niger junta to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum or risk sanctions, including possible military intervention.

But rather than reinstate Bazoum, the junta severed ties with Nigeria and some other countries sympathetic to Bazoum’s cause.

It also warned against foreign intervention, vowing to defend the territorial integrity of Niger.

ECOWAS had last week sent a high-powered delegation to broker peace with the coupists but their representatives met with the team led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd).

The military regime had shut Nigerien airspace indefinitely and placed troops on standby.