The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has given coup plotters in Niger Republic a 7-days-ultimatum to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum as the democratically elected President of the country.
The regional body warned the coup plotters to reinstate Bazoum or face stiffer sanctions.
The directive was part of the communique read on Sunday by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray after the Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS, which held on Sunday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria.
Touray announced that Bazoum remains the legitimate President of Niger Republic recognized by ECOWAS, adding that should the military fail to restore him within the stipulated ultimatum, the regional body would impose land border closures and no-fly zone conditions on the country.
The body threatened to suspend financial transactions, cut off energy, and freeze the assets of Niger Republic if the military fails to release President Bazoum from detention and restore him to power within the given ultimatum.
It also tasked all Chiefs of Defense Staff of the member-states to proceed for an emergency meeting to strategize on effective ways to implement a possible military operation to restore constitutional order to the country.
According to Touray, ECOWAS “calls for the immediate release and reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum as President and Head of State of the Republic of Niger and for the full restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
“Reject any form of resignation that may purportedly come from His Excellency, President Mohamed Bazoum; considered the illegal detention of President Bazoum as a hostage situation and hold the authors of the attempted coup that are solely and fully responsible for the safety and security of His Excellency President Mohammed Bazoum, as well as members of his family and government.
“In the event the Authority’s demands are not met within one week, take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
“Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Asia. Freeze all service transactions including energy transactions.
“Freeze assets of the Republic of Niger in Aqua Central Bank. Freeze of assets of the Niger State and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks.
“Suspension of measure from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID.”
