Niger’s military leaders have issued a warning to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), urging them not to deploy troops to the Republic of Niger.
General Abdourahmane Tchiani, also known as Omar Tchiani, who assumed leadership following the recent coup, along with the chief of Niger’s presidential guard, gave the warning while the country’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, remained in military custody.
The military leaders conveyed their message through a statement broadcasted on Niger national television.
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Meanwhile, the objective of the ECOWAS, during its meeting, was to approve a plan of aggression against Niger through an imminent military intervention in Niamey.
The intervention will be carried out in collaboration with other African countries that are non-members of ECOWAS, as well as certain Western countries.
According to Colonel Amadou Abdramane, the military spokesperson, the plan aimed to restore constitutional order to office in Niger.
During the meeting, ECOWAS issued a seven-day ultimatum to the military junta in Niger.
The ultimatum demanded the reinstatement of President Bazoum as the democratically elected President. Failure to comply with the ultimatum will result in a range of stiff sanctions.
In addition, ECOWAS has tasked all Chiefs of Defense Staff of the member-states to proceed with an emergency meeting.
ECOWAS, which recognized Bazoum as the legitimate President of the nation, has threatened to impose land border closures and no-fly zone conditions on the Niger Republic.
The measures will be implemented if the military coup masterminds fail to heed ECOWAS’s ultimatum.
The Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS has also resolved to take action.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, who read the communiqué, the body “call 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 Nigeria.
“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.”
