This Sunday in the Nigerian capital, two “special” summits are organized to discuss the situation in Niger. The Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) meet. The stated objective is to force the junta to return power.
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With our correspondent in Cotonou, Serge Daniel
A record number of heads of state from the sub-region are expected at the Abuja double summit. Among them are already announced the Ivorian Alassane Ouattara and the Senegalese Macky Sall… It is the heads of state of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) who will meet initially. The ousted Nigerien leader is the current president of the organization. Niger is expected to be suspended and likely to announce measures to compel the junta in Niamey to release President Mohamed Bazoum and return power.
The ECOWAS summit will follow. Mahamat Déby, whose country is not a member of ECOWAS, is also invited. Chad shares a common border with Nigeria, but also with Niger. This is perhaps an indication of what will be at the heart of the debates.
On the eve of the Abuja summit, in several capitals of the sub-region, the discourse was clear: do not endorse the coup and show more than muscle if necessary. When he took over as head of the sub-regional organization a few weeks ago, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu was clear: to take power, you have to go to elections. Coups will no longer pass.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be the main voice of this summit, observes our correspondent in Abuja Moses Gomis. What preliminary words will he pronounce in introduction to the summit? Will he be in a role of moderating the debates? Or will it be a locomotive to drive strong decisions? Since his inauguration, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has repeated in all tones: “Nigeria is back. »
For its part, in Niamey, General Tchiani, mastermind of the putsch, reacted to the announcement of an ECOWAS summit. Yesterday on national television a spokesman for the junta read a press release from General Tchiani in which he said he suspected ECOWAS of “ prepare a plan of aggression against Niger “.
We warn ECOWAS and its allies against any military intervention in Niamey, therefore we will be obliged to defend ourselves to the last energy.
WE ARE READY !
— General Abdourahmane Tchiani (@General_Tchiani) July 29, 2023