Following the coup in Niger Republic that has upended the country’s constitutional political leadership, the Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fixed 30 July, to host a special meeting of the regional leaders in Abuja.
Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
He said President Tinubu as Chairman of ECOWAS, in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday 26 July, 2023, condemned the current political situation in the neighbouring country and promised that ECOWAS and the international community would do everything to defend democracy and ensure democratic governance continues to take firm root in the sub-region.
Presidential spokesman added that US Vice President Kamala Harris and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in separate telephone called on Thursday evening, adding that the President affirmed the support of the US and UN for the position taken by ECOWAS and the Nigerian leader to restore constitutional order in Niger.
Meanwhile, Niger’s putschists named an army general as the new leader of the unstable jihadist-hit nation on Friday and warned against any foreign military intervention.
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General Abdourahamane Tchiani, head of the Presidential Guard since 2011, appeared on state television saying he was the “president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland”.
The General presented the coup as a response to “the degradation of the security situation” linked to jihadist bloodshed.
A statement followed from the putschists on TV which warned of “the consequences that will flow from any foreign military intervention”.
“Certain dignitaries .. are in thinking of confrontation” which “will end in nothing but the massacre of the Nigerien population and chaos,” they claimed.
On the third day since President Mohamed Bazoum was detained, former colonial master France demanded the restoration of the democratically elected government saying it “does not recognise” the putschists, and calling Bazoum “sole president”.
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The coup has prompted mounting international concern, and on Friday Kenyan President William Ruto called the army takeover “a serious setback” for Africa.
“The aspirations of the people of Niger for constitutional democracy were subverted by an unconstitutional change of government,” he said in a video message.
Bazoum and his family have been confined since Wednesday morning to their residence at the presidential palace located within the Guard’s military camp.
He is said to be in good health and has been able to talk by telephone to other heads of State.