The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS/CEDEAO) has formally suspended the Republic of Niger’s membership until constitutional order is reinstated in the country. The decision was announced in a statement by the regional body following the decisions made at the summit of heads of state and government held in Abuja on Sunday.
The statement highlighted that until the 64th ordinary session on December 10, 2023, the Conference of Heads of State and Government considered the situation in Niger as a coup attempt and recognised Mohamed Bazoum as the President of the Republic of Niger and Head of State. During this period, Niger was not suspended from ECOWAS’ decision-making bodies, and representatives of Bazoum’s government were authorised to participate in ECOWAS’ statutory meetings.
However, the summit on December 10 recognised that Mohamed Bazoum’s government had effectively been overthrown by a military coup. Consequently, starting on December 10, 2023, Niger is suspended from all decision-making bodies of ECOWAS until constitutional order is restored in the country.
The statement reads, “The 10 December summit recognised that Mohamed Bazoum’s government had effectively been overthrown by a military coup.”
“Consequently, beginning from 10 December 2023, Niger is suspended from all decision-making bodies of ECOWAS, until constitutional order is restored in the country,” the statement added.
During the ECOWAS leaders’ meeting in Abuja on Sunday, a proposal was made to the military junta of Niger, which took power in a coup on July 26, asking for the release of the deposed president Mohamed Bazoum in exchange for lifting the sanctions imposed on the country. However, the junta’s leader, Omar Abdourahmane Tchiani, rejected the proposal, insisting that Bazoum would not be released.
Following the summit, ECOWAS maintained sanctions against Niger and asked the junta to shorten the duration of the transition period, currently set at three years. While Tchiani agreed to this last request, he did not specify by how much.
