West African Leaders Huddle For Emergency Talks On Niger Coup
Muhammad Irfan Published August 10, 2023 | 05:46 PM
West African leaders came together Thursday for an emergency summit on the coup in Niger, whose new military rulers have defied an ultimatum -- backed by the threat of force to restore the elected president and pressed ahead with appointing a new governmen
Abuja, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2023 ) :West African leaders came together Thursday for an emergency summit on the coup in Niger, whose new military rulers have defied an ultimatum -- backed by the threat of force to restore the elected president and pressed ahead with appointing a new government.
More than two weeks after the coup that toppled Niger's elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it is seeking a diplomatic solution but has not ruled out military intervention.
Important decisions are expected from the gathering in Nigeria's capital Abuja, according to a statement from the 15-nation organisation on Tuesday.
Struggling to stem a cascade of coups among its members since 2020, the bloc gave the troops who seized power on July 26 until last Sunday to reinstate Bazoum or face the potential use of force.
But the coup leaders remained defiant and the deadline passed without action.
In their latest show of resistance against international pressure, the military leaders named a new government, according to a decree read out on national television on Thursday.
Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine will lead the 21-member administration, with generals from the new military governing council heading the defence and interior ministries.
The possibility of a military intervention in Niger, a fragile nation that ranks among the world's poorest, has sparked debate within ECOWAS and warnings from neighbouring Algeria as well as Russia.
Niger's neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, both ruled by military governments that seized power in coups, have said an intervention would be a "declaration of war" on their countries.
- Hopes for 'real discussions' - On Tuesday, a bid to send a joint team of ECOWAS, UN and African Union representatives to the capital Niamey was rejected by the coup leaders.
The nomination of a new prime minister by the coup leaders earlier this week appeared to signal the start of a transition to a new government.
But in a twist on Wednesday, a former emir of the Nigerian city of Kano revealed that he had met with the coup leaders to help mediate the crisis.
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi told Nigerian state television he had spoken to coup leader General Abdourahamane Tiani and would deliver a "message" to Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu, though he was not an official government emissary.
"We came hoping that our arrival will pave the way for real discussions between the leaders of Niger and those of Nigeria," said Sanusi, who is known to be a close friend of Tinubu.
Current ECOWAS chair Nigeria is taking a hard line against last month's coup, the fifth in Niger since independence from France in 1960.
Speaking before flying to Abuja on Wednesday, Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo said the future of ECOWAS was at stake following coups in four member states -- Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger.
Bazoum remains Niger's sole recognised president and coups must be banned, he added.
- 'Deplorable living conditions' - UN secretary general Antonio Guterres added to a chorus of concern about the welfare of 63-year-old Bazoum, who has been detained by members of his presidential guard since July 26.
Guterres denounced "the deplorable living conditions that President Bazoum and his family are reported to be living under", according to a UN statement.
CNN reported Wednesday that Bazoum was being kept in isolation and given meals only of plain rice and pasta.
Countries in the fragile Sahel region are battling a militant insurgency that erupted in northern Mali in 2012, spread to Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015, and is now causing jitters in states on the Gulf of Guinea.
The bloody campaign has been devastating for those three countries, which have turbulent histories and are among the poorest nations in the world.
Bazoum's election in 2021 had helped Niger cement close ties with France and the United States, which have major bases and troop deployments in the country.
France last year withdrew its forces from Mali and Burkina Faso after falling out with their military leaders, refocussing its anti-jihadist strategy on Niger.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
Pakistan, Qatar agree to further expand trade, investment ties
Sindh cabinet approves Rs177.5m to strengthen, mobilize various wings of police
Faisal Karim Kundi takes oath as new KP Governor
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Chaudhry seeks more vibrant ..
Tahaffuz Manzil Foster Home providing care & support to homeless children
PCB proposes April 7 -May 20 window; tweaks in rules for HBL PSL 2025
Field hospitals now operational across Punjab: Azma Bukhari
More Stories From World
-
Football: French Ligue 1 results - collated
4 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A results - collated
4 hours ago -
European Champions Cup semi-final result
4 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
4 hours ago -
Tennis: WTA Madrid Open results
4 hours ago -
Formula One: Miami Grand Prix sprint race results
5 hours ago
-
Barca have 'huge amount' to change next season: coach Xavi
5 hours ago -
Haaland 'back to business' with four-goal haul in Man City rout of Wolves
5 hours ago -
Newcomer Bellingham Madrid's driving force in La Liga conquest
5 hours ago -
Girona players have made history, says coach after reaching Champions League
5 hours ago -
Reus begins farewell tour while Bayern stumble in Stuttgart
5 hours ago -
Real Madrid La Liga title win in numbers
6 hours ago