The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) unequivocally denied the rumors suggesting that the regional organization was under the influence of external forces orchestrating actions against the Niger Republic. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, firmly addressed these claims during a press conference held on Friday in Abuja.
Touray categorically rejected the notion that foreign powers were remotely dictating ECOWAS’s actions, specifically its purported involvement in any actions aimed at the Niger Republic.
GOVIMA reported that President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic was ousted July 26 in a military coup led by the former commander of Niger’s presidential guard, Abdourahamane Tchiani.
The action that ECOWAS condemned and called on the junta to return power to the democratically elected president.
“Let me reiterate that fifth columnists have unfortunately been misrepresenting our decisions and actions, deriding regional authorities as being tele-guided by foreign powers with nefarious intentions.
“Let me remind everyone that ECOWAS is a community of rules and regulations, norms, and values. These principles, which have been accumulated over the 48 years of its existence, and they underpin its actions.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission also said the sub-regional body has not declared war on the people of Niger Republic nor is there any plan to invade the country.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let me state unequivocally that ECOWAS has neither declared war on the people of Niger nor is there a plan, as it is being purported, to ‘invade’ the country.
“The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has only activated a full-scale application of sanctions which includes the use of legitimate force to restore constitutional order,” he said.
He said the ECOWAS would keep all options on the table for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
Touray noted that the Niger Republic subscribed to the bloc’s rules and regulations to deploy measures to support its fight against terrorism to ensure the restoration of democracy, peace, and security in the community.
The President noted that preparations were on top gear to deploy the standby force to Niger, urging the Niger junta to reinstate President Bazoum.
“So, while we are determined to bend over backward to accommodate diplomatic efforts, we are not unaware of the true intentions of some of the members of the Niger junta. At first, they snubbed our diplomatic efforts but recently began to show signs of being amenable, only for them to take a dangerous path by putting in place a government, and an unacceptable transition timeline.
“Let me reiterate that the decision of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government…is to work for the peaceful restoration of civilian rule in the Niger Republic without any delay and to use all the instruments at the disposal of ECOWAS towards the attainment of this goal.
“As for the other countries in transition, namely Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, ECOWAS will continue to support their transition processes, as directed by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government
“We will continue to support their fight against terrorism to ensure the restoration of democracy, peace, and security in our community. We will also continue to work with them on their agreed transition timetables.,” he said.
