2023-08-07 13:55:11
ECOWAS urgently convened a new summit of Heads of State and Government, next Thursday, August 10 in Abuja, on the situation in Niger.
It will come a few days after the end of the ultimatum addressed to the putschists to return power and reinstall Mohamed Bazoum, overthrown on July 26th.
This will be the second summit of heads of state convened in less than two weeks, after that of July 30. According to RFI sources, member countries were informed by a message from the ECOWAS commission.
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This is a face-to-face summit, scheduled for Abuja, at the home of the Nigerian Bola Tinubu, current president of the institution.
Things are not going as the organization wants, with the failure of mediation attempts. From good sources, we learn that the putschists present the return of President Mohamed Bazoum as a blocking point.
On August 5, the Nigerian Senate also said it was not in favor of intervention. To this must be added the criticisms and attacks against ECOWAS, with press releases in Niamey.
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Some leading personalities had however confided that the decision to intervene had been taken and that another summit was no longer necessary. The response plan is ready, but it is not deployed. And the command of the force is still waiting for the order from ECOWAS.
In addition, the Malian army announces on August 7, 2023 the dispatch of a joint Mali-Burkina Faso delegation to ” solidarity ” with ” the brother people of Niger ».
The delegation is led by Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, Minister of State for Territorial Administration and spokesperson for the government of Bamako.
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The delegation is expected in Niamey. Niamey where, last night, shortly before the expiry of the deadline for the ECOWAS ultimatum, the soldiers of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) announced the closure of Niger’s airspace.
Decision made in the face of to the looming threat of intervention “, can we read in the press release.
The CNSP, led by General Tiani, warns ECOWAS against any interference in the internal affairs of Niger.
Calling it ” disastrous ” for the security of the sub-region the consequences of a possible ” military adventure “, the CNSP declares that any attempt to violate Niger’s airspace will lead to ” an energetic and instantaneous response ».
As for the potential intervention of ECOWAS, the CNSP mentions a pre-deployment in two Central African countries without specifying which ones, indicating that any State involved in the preparation of an operation against the military would be considered as co-belligerent.
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