ECOWAS orders standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger

SECOND EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT
OF THE ECOWAS AUTHORITY OF HEADS OF STATE AND
GOVERNMENT ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN NIGER
Abuja, 10th August 2023

FINAL COMMUNIQUE

1. The Authority of Heads of State and Governments of the Economic
   Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened an Extraordinary
   Session in Abuja, Nigeria on 10th August 2023, under the chairmanship of H.E.
   Bola Ahmed TINUBU, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chair of
   the ECOWAS Authority.
2. The Extraordinary Summit was convened as a sequel to the recent one
   held on 30th July 2023, following the illegal detention of President Mohamed
   BAZOUM by the members of the Presidential Guard in the Republic of Niger on
   26th July 2023.
3. Present at the Summit were the under-listed ECOWAS Heads of State and
   Government or their duly mandated representatives:
    H.E. Patrice TALON, President of the Republic of Benin.
    H.E. Alassane OUATTARA, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
    H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO, President of the Republic of
   Ghana.
    H.E. Umaro Sissoco EMBALO, President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau.
    H.E. Bola Ahmed TINUBU, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
    H.E. Macky SALL, President of the Republic of Senegal.
    H.E. Julius Maada BIO, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
    H.E. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, President of the Togolese Republic.
    H.E. Mamadou TANGARA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International
   Cooperation and Gambian Abroad;
    H.E Amb Dee-Maxwell SAAH KEMAYAH, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
   Republic of Liberia
    H.E. Hassoumi Massaoudou, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
   Niger representing President Mohamed Bazoum

 H.E. Belarmino M. SILVA, Ambassador of Cabo Verde to the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, the Republic of Cabo Verde.

4. The Summit was also attended by:
   ● H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi.
   ● H.E. Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of
   Mauritania.
   ● H.E. Dr Omar Alieu TOURAY, President of the ECOWAS Commission.
   ● H.E. Leonardo Santos SIMÃO, Special Representative of the United Nations
   Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Head of UNOWAS
   ● H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye Commissioner for Peace and Security
   representing the Chairperson of the African Union Commission
   The Authority, having:
5. Considered the Memorandum presented by the President of the ECOWAS
   Commission on the current situation in the Republic of Niger, as well as
   ECOWAS
   engagement since the last Extraordinary Summit, including the reports of the
   envoys of the Chair to Niger and various other places;
6. Carefully considered the Report and recommendations of the ECOWAS
   Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff;
7. Extensively discussed the latest development in Niger since the last
   Extraordinary summit held on 30th July 2023;

8. Noted that all diplomatic efforts made by ECOWAS in resolving the crisis
   have been defiantly repelled by the military leadership of the Republic of Niger;
9. Taken note of the expiration of the one-week ultimatum given for the
   restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger;
10. Decide as follows:
    a. Reiterate its strong condemnation of the attempted coup d’état and
    the continued illegal detention of President Muhammed BAZOUM, his
    family, and members of his government;
    b. Further Condemn the condition in which President Bazoum is being
    detained and hold the CNSP fully and solely responsible for the safety,
    security and physical integrity of President Bazoum and members of
    his family and Government;
    c. Uphold all measures and principles agreed upon by extraordinary
    summit held on Niger on 30th July 2023
    d. Underscore the determination of the ECOWAS Authority to keep all
    options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis,
    e. Enforce all measures, in particular, border closure, and strict travel
    bans and asset freeze on all persons, or groups of individuals whose
    actions hinder all peaceful efforts aimed at ensuring the smooth and
    complete restoration of constitutional order;
    f. Warn member states who, by their action directly or indirectly, hinder
    the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger about the consequences
    for their action before the Community;

g. Call on the African Union to endorse all the decisions taken by the
ECOWAS on the situation in Niger;
h. Further call on all partner countries and institutions, including the
United Nations, to support ECOWAS in its efforts to ensure a quick
restoration of constitutional order, in conformity with its normative
instruments;
i. Direct the President of the Commission to monitor the
implementation of the sanctions ;
j. Direct the Committee of the Chiefs of Defence Staff to immediately
activate the ECOWAS Standby Force with all its elements;
k. Order the deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force to restore
constitutional order in the Republic of Niger

11. The Authority expresses appreciation to H.E. General Abdulsalami A.
    ABUBAKAR GCFR, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad ABUBAKAR, the Sultan
    of Sokoto, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe for the special envoy missions
    undertaken in Niger, Libya and Algeria, on behalf of the Chair of Authority;
12. The Authority expresses gratitude to H.E. Bola Ahmed TINUBU,
    President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chair of the ECOWAS
    Authority, for convening the Extraordinary session and for the manner in
    which he has been conducting the affairs of the community as Chair of
    Authority.
    Done at Abuja, this 10th day of August 2023.
    THE AUTHORITY