Ecowas leader set up another committee to help restore civilian rule in Niger Republic

REGIONAL body the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has set up another committee negotiate with the military junta in Niger Republic in a further attempt to find a way to resort civilian rule to the country.

On July 26, officers of the Nigerien presidential guard arrested President Mohammed Bazoum in the capital Niamey and declared him deposed. In response Ecowas leaders, met in Abuja and introduced sanctions against the regime, suspending it and freezing Niger Republic's assets.

Despite Ecowas led by Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu, giving the Nigerien generals a one-week ultimatum to restore constitutional order, they have remained in power since July. Two previous committees set up to midwife a transition have not worked, so at its meeting in Abuja yesterday, Ecowas set up another one made up of the presidents of Togo, Sierra Leone and Benin Republic.

This new committee will try to get a commitment to a short democratic transition from the military junta as well as secure the release of Mr Bazoum, his family and some of his associates. Sunday’s resolutions confirms that the Ecowas leaders are no longer keen on the use of force to restore constitutional order in Niger and instead hope more dialogue with the junta will lead to a return of democracy.

Details of a communique agreed by the regional leaders was read by Omar Touray, the president of the Ecowas Commission, at the end of the 64th ordinary session in Abuja yesterday.  Apart from the resolution on Niger, the Ecowas leaders also resolved to urgently review efforts to activate a standby force for counter-terrorism operations in areas affected by terrorist groups in the region.