Heads of ECOWAS states will again meet in Abuja on Thursday, August 10, 2023 to review the crisis in Niger, and decide the next line of action.
The meeting will hild under the Chairmanship of President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, who is the current Chairman of ECOWAS.
The meeting follows the expiration of one week ultimatum given to the new military leaders in Niger Republic to restore democratically elected government to the country.
The ultimatum expired in Sunday, August 6, 2023.
“ECOWAS heads of state (will) hold another extraordinary summit on the political situation in the Republic of Niger,” the 15-member bloc said in its first official reaction after Niger ignored Sunday’s deadline to reinstate democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
Earlier on Monday, an ECOWAS source said West African nations were not envisaging an immediate military intervention at this stage.
Italy and Germany called for a diplomatic solution in the troubled Sahel nation.
Neighbouring Mali said it and Burkina Faso — which have both been suspended from ECOWAS over their own military coups — were sending a joint official delegation to Niamey to show “solidarity (with) the people of Niger”.
They have said military intervention would be tantamount to a declaration of war. (AFP/vitalnewsngr.com)
