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Ph:DR: Second Extraordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on the Political Situation in Niger in Abuja
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 August 10, 2023, under the chairmanship of HE Mr. Bola Ahmed TINUBU, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and current President of the Conference.
- The Extraordinary Summit was convened following the one held on July 30, 2023, after the coup attempt and the illegal detention of President Mohamed BAZOUM by members of the Presidential Guard in the Republic of Niger, on July 26, 2023.
- The following Heads of State and Government or their duly authorized representatives participated: • HE Patrice TALON, President of the Republic of Benin; • HE Alassane OUATTARA, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire; • HE Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO, President of the Republic of Ghana; • HE Umaro Sissoco EMBALO, President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau; • HE Bola Ahmed TINUBU, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; • HE Macky SALL, President of the Republic of Senegal; • HE Julius Maada BIO, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone; • HE Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, President of the Togolese Republic;
3 • HE Mamadou TANGARA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, of the Republic of The Gambia; • SE Amb. Dee-Maxwell SAAH KEMAYAH Snr., Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia; • HE Hassoumi MASSAOUDOU, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Niger, representing HE President Mohamed Bazoum; • HE Belarmino M. SILVA, Ambassador of the Republic of Cabo Verde to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, Republic of Cabo Verde.
- Also present were the following personalities: ● HE Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi; ● HE Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania; ● HE Dr Omar Alieu TOURAY, President of the ECOWAS Commission; ● HE Leonardo Santos SIMÃO, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel, Head of UNOWAS; ● SE Amb. Adeoye BANKOLE, Commissioner for Peace and Security, representing the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. The Conference, having:
- Examined the memorandum presented by the President of the ECOWAS Commission on the current situation in the Republic of Niger, as well as the activities undertaken by ECOWAS since the last Extraordinary Summit, and having taken cognizance of the reports of the special envoys of the President-in-Office in Niger and various other places;
- Carefully reviewed the report and recommendations of the ECOWAS Chiefs of Defense Committee;
- Discussed in detail the latest developments in Niger since the Extraordinary Summit held on July 30, 2023;
- Noted that all diplomatic efforts undertaken by ECOWAS to resolve the crisis have been rebuffed with defiance by the military leadership of the Republic of Niger;
- Took note of the expiry of the one-week ultimatum addressed to the junta for the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger;
- Decides to: a. Reiterate its firm condemnation of the attempted coup d’etat and the continued illegal detention of President Muhammed BAZOUM, his family and members of his government; b. Also denounce the conditions under which President Bazoum is kept in detention and hold the CNSP fully responsible for the safety and physical integrity of President Bazoum and the members of his family and his government; vs. Reaffirm all the measures and all the principles agreed at the Extraordinary Summit on Niger held on July 30, 2023; d. Underline its determination to keep open all options for a peaceful settlement of the crisis; 5th. Enforce all measures, including those relating to border closures, travel bans and asset freezes, of all persons, or groups of persons, whose actions have the effect of impeding peaceful efforts to to ensure the rapid and full restoration of constitutional order; f. Launch a solemn warning to the Member States whose direct or indirect actions have the effect of hindering the peaceful settlement of the crisis in Niger, with regard to the consequences of their actions before the Community; g. Call on the African Union to endorse all the decisions taken by ECOWAS on Niger; h. Also appeal to all partner countries and institutions, including the United Nations, to lend their support to ECOWAS in its efforts to ensure a speedy restoration of constitutional order , in accordance with its normative instruments; i. Instruct the President of the Commission to monitor the implementation of sanctions; d. Instruct the Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff to activate without delay the ECOWAS Standby Force, with all its elements; k. Orders the deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force for the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger; 6 l. Underline its continued commitment to the restoration of constitutional order by peaceful means.
- The Conference expresses its gratitude to HE General Abdulsalami A. ABUBAKAR GCFR, to His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad ABUBAKAR, Sultan of Sokoto, as well as to Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, for the missions undertaken as special envoys to Niger, in Libya and Algeria, on behalf of the current President of the Conference; 12. She expresses her gratitude to HE Mr. Bola Ahmed TINUBU, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and current Chairman of the ECOWAS Assembly, for having convened this extraordinary session and for the manner in which he directs the affairs of the Community in its as President of the Conference.
DONE IN ABUJA, ON 10TH AUGUST 2023.
THE CONFERENCE
