President Tinubu, ECOWAS Meet As Niger Coup Leaders Form New Government

The chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Bola Tinubu is expected to host a meeting in Abuja on Thursday to address the political unrest in the Niger Republic.

The summit focuses on potential actions after the military junta in Niger overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.

This meeting is coming at the time coup leaders in Niger formed a new government and announced the appointment of 21 persons as ministers.

Naija News reports that the coup leaders announced the formation of the new government in a televised broadcast on Wednesday night, two weeks after toppling President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup.

A notable decision previously made by ECOWAS was the suggestion of a military intervention if the junta didn’t restore democracy within a seven-day timeframe.

Days after the July 26 coup, ECOWAS leaders demanded “the immediate release and reinstatement of Mr Bazoum as the legitimate head of the Republic of Niger.”

They firmly stated, “Only official acts of President Bazoum or his duly-mandated officials will be recognised by ECOWAS.”

The regional leaders universally condemned the coup and the illegal detention of President Bazoum, his family, and members of his government.

They emphasized that the coupists are entirely accountable for the safety of the detained officials and their families.

In the last meeting, Presidents from Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, and Togo were in attendance, with representatives from Cape Verde, Liberia, Niger, and Sierra Leone.