August 11, (THEWILL) – France and the United States have expressed support for all measures by ECOWAS to restore constitutional authority in Niger Republic.
This was made known in separate statements issued by the US and France, on Thursday
Although the United States has in recent days cautioned that military force should only be a last resort and that diplomacy was the best way to resolve the crisis, a statement by Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, warned that the US would hold the military junta in Niger accountable for the safety of President Mohamed Bazoum, his family and detained cabinet members.
Blinken, who did not explicitly back ECOWAS for military intervention, however, expressed concerns over the safety of ousted President Bazoum.
“The United States joins the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in calling for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger.
“ECOWAS, an organisation that brings together West African countries, is playing a key role in making clear the imperative of a return to constitutional order, and we very much support ECOWAS’ leadership and work on this,” Blinken said on Thursday.
On its part, France, in a statement issued by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, reiterates its strong condemnation of the coup and the detention of President Bazoum and his family.
“At an Extraordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) attended by Nigerien Foreign Minister, Hassoumi Massoudou, the Presidents of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo reiterated their determination to ensure the restoration of constitutional and democratic order in Niger and the release of President Bazoum and his family.
“France reaffirms its full support for all of the conclusions adopted at this Extraordinary Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held on August 10, 2023,” the statement read.
The West African regional bloc, on Thursday, at its Extraordinary meeting Summit, ordered the activation of a standby force for the possible use of force against the junta.
An official communiqué read by Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, said the leaders directed the Committee of the Chiefs of Defence Staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately.
The leaders also issued a stern warning to member states whose actions, whether direct or indirect, impede the peaceful resolution of the Niger crisis.
The communiqué emphasised that such actions would entail consequences within the ECOWAS community.
Underscoring its continued commitment to restoring constitutional order through peaceful means, the leaders noted that all diplomatic efforts made by ECOWAS in resolving the crisis have been repelled at various intervals by the military rulership of the Republic of Niger.
As the one-week ultimatum for the restoration of constitutional order expired, the ECOWAS Authority made the following decisions:
(A) Reiterates its strong condemnation of the attempted coup d’etat and the continued illegal detention of President Mohammed Bazoum, his family and members of his government.
(B) Further condemns the condition in which President Bazoum is being detained and holds the CMSP fully and solely responsible for the safety, security and physical integrity of President Bazoum, and members of his family and government.
(C) Upholds all measures and principles agreed upon by the Extraordinary Summit held on Niger on 30th of July, 2023.
(D) Underscores the determination of the ECOWAS Authority to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
(E) Enforces all measures, in particular, border closures and strict travel bans as well as assets freezes on all persons or groups of individuals whose actions hinder all peaceful efforts aimed at ensuring the smooth and complete restoration of Niger’s constitutional order.
Furthermore, the West African leaders called on the African Union to endorse their decisions on the Niger crisis while also urging partner countries and institutions, including the United Nations, to support ECOWAS in its effort to ensure a quick restoration of constitutional order in Niger Republic.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission was further tasked with overseeing the implementation of sanctions stemming from the initial Extraordinary meeting in Abuja.
