ECOWAS committed to restoring civilian rule in Niger
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) remain determined in reestablishing civilian leadership in Niger since a junta took power from July onwards, according to Africa News and AFP.
West African leaders met in Abuja, Nigeria and the turmoil in Niger was high on the agenda. The heads of states also addressed the deepening political crises as well as the high presence of jihadists in the region.
Niger has been under military rule for nearly 6 months as a coup d’etat deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, democratically elected in 2021 in what was seen as a delivery of hope by experts particularly in the Western World.
The West African region has also needed to battle against a collection of armed Islamist groups linked to ISIS.
READ: Niger: French troops start withdrawal
The ECOWAS bloc set up a committee in order to negotiate with the Nigerien junta regarding a return to civilian rule.
The committee was also reportedly founded with the objective of discussing a potential quashing of sanctions that has been imposed on the crisis-stricken nation by the bloc since the armageddon in Nigerien capital Niamey, earlier this year.
ECOWAS commission President, Dr. Omar Touray said, “The authority decides to set up a committee of heads of state made up of the presence of the President and head of state of the Republic of Togo, the President and head of state of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the President and head of state of the Republic of Benin, to engage with CNSP (Nigerian junta) and other stakeholders, with a view to agreeing on a short transition roadmap, establishing transition organs as well as facilitating the setting up of a transition monitoring and evaluation mechanism to work for the speedy restoration of constitutional order.”
AFP/ Africa News
