Barely three weeks after the Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumes the leadership of the subregional body, Economic Community of West Africa States, ECOWAS, there has been reported coup attempt in Niger Republic.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President, Bola Tinubu has condemned the coup in Niger Republic.
The Nigeria’s President who emphasised that ECOWAS will vehemently reject military take over said coup will not be accepted in the region.
“Information filtering in from the Republic of Niger indicates some unpleasant developments around the country’s highest political leadership.
“It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country.
“The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa.
“I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region.
“I am in close consultation with other leaders in our region, and we shall protect our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism.”
Security sources report that Niger Republic’s President Mohamed Bazoum is currently being held inside the presidential palace in the capital.
Military vehicles have blocked off the palace since Wednesday morning, with the movements resembling four previous military takeovers experienced in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso since 2020.
Ministries next to the palace have also been blocked off, and staff inside the palace have not been able to access their offices or the presidency, security sources said.
“The rest of Niamey appeared calm, with normal morning traffic on the road and full internet access,” a Reuters reporter said.
Previous coups in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali were partly driven by frustrations over the authorities’ inability to contain the Islamist insurgency in the Sahel region, including Niger.
In March 2021, a coup attempt in Niger was foiled when a military unit tried to seize the presidential palace just days before Mohamed Bazoum’s scheduled inauguration.
In 2021, the Guinean special forces arrested the president, Alpha Conde, and announced a nationwide curfew “until further notice,” as well as the replacement of governors by the military.
“We have decided, after having taken the president, to dissolve the constitution,” said a uniformed officer flanked by soldiers toting assault rifles in a video sent to AFP.