The Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has convened another Extraordinary Summit of the Authority on the political situation in the Republic of Niger.
The meeting was called after the expiration of one week ultimatum given to the Niger military junta to reinstate the democratically elected president, Mr. Mohamed Bazoum, or face punitive action.
The Directorate of Communication, ECOWAS Commission, in a statement, on Monday, said the Summit will hold in Abuja, on Thursday, August 10, 2023.
The statement said ECOWAS Leaders will be considering and discussing the political situation and recent developments in Niger during the Summit.
It will be recalled that on Sunday, July 30 2023, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), announced a one-week ultimatum for coup plotters in Niger to hand over power back to the democratically elected government, following an extraordinary session of the ECOWAS member states, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, in Abuja.
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.
— Ecowas – Cedeao (@ecowas_cedeao) August 7, 2023At the meeting, a resolution was reached to impose several sanctions on Niger over the military coup, including the possible use of force.
Also, the Defence Chiefs from ECOWAS member states, on 2nd August 2023, held an extraordinary meeting at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, over the same military coup in the Republic of Niger.
At the end of the meeting, the defence chiefs agreed on a possible military action plan, including when and where to strike, if the detained president, Mohamed Bazoum, is not released and reinstated.
The junta in Niger had also closed its airspace to forestall any possible attack from ECOWAS forces.
