ECOWAS summit on Niger: 7-day ultimatum to the junta

FIFTY-FIRST EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF ECOWAS ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN NIGER

Abuja, July 30, 2023.

COMMUNIQUE FINAL

ECOWAS Commission Abuja, July 2023

1. 1. The Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met in Extraordinary Session in Abuja, Nigeria, on 30 July 2023, under the chairmanship of SE Bola Ahmed TINUBUPresident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and current President of the Conference.

2. 2. The Extraordinary Summit was convened in response to the latest political developments in the Republic of Niger, since July 26, 2023.

3. 3. The following Heads of State and Government or their duly authorized representatives participated:

• S.E. Patrice TALONPresident of the Republic of Benin;
• SE Alassane OUATTARAPresident of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire;
• S.E. Adama BARROWPresident of the Republic of The Gambia;
• SE Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDOPresident of the Republic of Ghana;
• SE Umaro Sissoco PACKINGPresident of the Republic of Guinea Bissau;
• SE Bola Ahmed TINUBUPresident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
• S.E. Macky SALLPresident of the Republic of Senegal;
• SE Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBEPresident of the Togolese Republic.
• HE Rui Alberto DE FIGUEIREDO SOARESMinister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration of the Republic of Cabo Verde,
• SE the Dee-Maxwell Ambassador SOAH KEMAYAH, SnMinister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia,
• S.E. Rupert DAVIES, Sierra Leone High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, Republic of Sierra Leone,
• The Representative of President Mohamed Bazoum of the Republic of Niger.

4. 4. Also present were the following personalities:

• S.E. Dr Omar Alieu TOURAYPresident of the ECOWAS Commission;
• SE Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission;
• HE Leonardo Santos SIMÃO, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
• SE Abdoulaye DIOP, President of the WAEMU Commission

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5. 5. Received the memorandum presented by the President of the ECOWAS Commission on the political situation in the Republic of Niger;

6. 6. Led an in-depth discussion on the latest developments in the Republic of Niger, marked by an attempt to overthrow the constitutional order in the country by members of the Presidential Guard, as well as the illegal detention of the legitimate Head of State , His Excellency President Mohamed BAZOUM, members of his family and his government;

7. 7. Recalled, with gratitude, the immediate measures implemented by EM Bola Ahmed TINUBU, the current President of the Assembly, in the form of statements, communiqués, missions and consultations with regional, continental and world leaders;

8. 8. Take note of the fact that the coup attempt and illegal detention of President Bazoum and members of his family and his government have been condemned by neighboring countries, by the African Union , the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, China, Russia, La Francophonie, the Commonwealth, the OIC and other partners;

9. 9. Recalled the principle of Zero Tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government, as enshrined in the ECOWAS and African Union Protocols and other instruments;

10. 10. Decides as follows:

1. To. Affirms that His Excellency President Mohamed BAZOUM remains the legitimate elected Head of State of the Republic of Niger, recognized by ECOWAS, the African Union and the international community. In this regard, only the official acts of President Bazoum or his duly authorized executives will be recognized by ECOWAS;

1. Condemns in the strongest terms the attempt to overthrow the constitutional order in Niger and the illegal detention of His Excellency President Mohamed Bazoum, President of the Head of State of Niger, as well as members of his family and his government;

1. vs. Demands the immediate release of His Excellency Mohamed Bazoum and his reinstatement as President of the Republic, Head of State, as well as the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger;

1. Rejects any form of alleged resignation attributed to HE President Mohamed Bazoum;

1. e. Considers the illegal detention of President Mohamed Bazoum as hostage-taking and holds the perpetrators of the coup attempt responsible for the safety and physical integrity of His Excellency the President, as well as members of his family and its government;

1. f. Take all necessary measures, in the event that the demands of the Conference are not met within one week, to ensure the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of the Niger, of . Such measures may include the use of force. To this end, the ECOWAS Chiefs of Defense should meet immediately;

1. g. Demands accountability from those responsible for violence and terror, having committed acts that have resulted in loss of life and destruction of property of innocent citizens and residents;

1. h. Condemns statements of support from foreign governments and foreign private military organizations;

1. i. Expresses its thanks to the various governments and partners for their position and their solidarity with ECOWAS;

1. d. Appoint a special representative of the President of the Conference, who will be immediately dispatched to Niger, carrying a message containing the demands of the Conference;

1. k. In the meantime, the following measures will be applied, with immediate effect:

1. 1. Closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger;

2. 2. Establishment of an ECOWAS exclusion zone for all commercial flights to or from Niger;
3. 3. Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger;
4. 4. Freezing of all service transactions, including utilities;
5. 5. Freezing of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS central banks;
6. 6. Freezing of the assets of the State of Niger, as well as public and parastatal companies housed in commercial banks;
7. 7. Suspension of Niger from all forms of financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, in particular EBID and BOAD;
8. 8. Travel ban and freezing of assets of military officers involved in the coup attempt. This measure also applies to members of their families and to civilians agreeing to appear in any institution or any government to be set up by these military officers.

9. 9. Launch of an appeal to WAEMU and all other regional organizations for the implementation of this decision.

1. I. Expresses its deep gratitude to E. Bola Ahmed TINUBUPresident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Head of State, for the manner in which he has directed the affairs of the community since his election as President of the Conference.

DONE IN ABUJA, JULY 30, 2023.

PORR LA CONFANDRENCE

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