An extraordinary – virtual – session of the ECOWAS Parliament took place on Saturday August 12. It highlighted the opposition of many representatives of this advisory body to a possible military intervention in Niger. The ECOWAS Parliament, made up of politicians from the various ECOWAS member states, wishes to organize a new mediation mission in Niamey.
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Twenty-three members of the ECOWAS Parliament, which has 115 seats, took part in the virtual discussions during this extraordinary session, reports our special correspondent in Lagos, Liza Fabbian. The majority of them said they were opposed to a military intervention in Niger, where some parliamentarians are from.
The Nigerien Amadou Ali Djibo notably underlined that the sanctions currently imposed on his country have already led to the closure of many schools and that a war would have deleterious consequences on the lives of the most vulnerable.
For his part, Mohammed Ali Ndume, a senator from northeastern Nigeria, said his country could not go to war without the approval not only of the National Assembly, but also of the UN Security Council. .
At the end of this virtual meeting, the representatives of the ECOWAS Parliament did not sign a resolution but they agreed on the idea of setting up a delegation to try to continue negotiations between ECOWAS and members of the ruling junta in Niamey.
The terms of such mediation must be discussed as soon as possible with the head of ECOWAS, the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This new initiative has the advantage of bringing together representatives from the different countries involved.
Other initiatives to renew the dialogue
“Restore constitutional order and everything will become possible”: this is the message that must be conveyed this Sunday to the new Nigerien authorities through another channel, that of a wealthy businessman from the sub-region, reports our correspondent. regional, Sergi Daniel. We would guarantee forgiveness to the general Abdourahamane Tianileader of the junta, and the main heads of the National Council for the Salvation of the Fatherland (CNSP).
American diplomacy is also active. A diplomat from the United States could soon travel to Niamey.
Another speaker, Togo. President Faure Gnassingbe was present during the last closed session in Abuja and as often, he spoke little according to sources, not at all according to others. But we know that Togo is one of the few countries that fully play the card of dialogue and negotiation to find a way out of the crisis. According to our information, Lomé spoke at least twice with the putschists in Niamey. Among the demands made: the release of the President Mohammad Bazoum and the opening of sincere negotiations for the continuation of the process. An interlocutor, familiar with the matter, adds: the Togolese are not for a military intervention, but for negotiations, to move forward.
Read alsoCoup in Niger: a new ECOWAS summit underway, dialogue with the putschists stalled