The Nigerian president and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has put his weight behind the use of diplomacy and dialogue by the regional body to resolve the current impasse, as well as earnest discussions with all parties involved, to restore constitutional governance in the Republic of Niger.
He expressed this position at the second ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit on the socio-political situation in Niger Republic holding in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and attended by the Presidents of Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Cote ‘d’ Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Sierra Leone, and Togo, while Liberia and the Gambia were represented by their Foreign Ministers.
The president said “In reaffirming our relentless commitment to democracy, human rights, and the well-being of the people of Niger, it is crucial that we prioritize diplomatic negotiations and dialogue as the bedrock of our approach.”
“We must engage all parties involved, including the coup leaders, in earnest discussions to convince them to relinquish power and reinstate President Bazoum”, he said. He also urged member-states “to exhaust all avenues of engagement to ensure a swift return to constitutional governance in Niger.”.
The Nigerian president expressed the opinion that “the political crisis in Niger not only poses a threat to the stability of the nation but also has far-reaching implications for the entire West African region.”
The regional body’s communique from the first Extraordinary Summit held on 30 July had made a number of demands on the military junta and also imposed a number of sanctions that observers say are having biting effects on the Nigerièn economy. There had also been a subtle threat of military intervention, which, many say, Tinubu’s call for dialogue has clearly deferred for now.
Tinubu highlighted several efforts taken that showed the organisation’s preference for dialogue, such as the deployment of mediation teams and Special Envoys to engage with key stakeholders within and beyond the region.
The Nigerian leader also pointed to the recent meeting of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defense Staff, the meeting of the Chiefs of Staffs Committee and the ECOWAS Commission’s memorandum on current developments in Niger as crucial sources of insight to guide the decisions of the Heads of State and Government at the meeting.
