Niger denounces invitation of leaders of ousted government to ECOWAS summit
The military administration in Niger criticized Wednesday the decision of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc to invite some former leaders of the previous government to its recent summit, saying it potentially undermines diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the current standoff.
ECOWAS leaders meeting in Nigeria’s capital Abuja on Dec.10 maintained sanctions imposed against Niger following the July military intervention that deposed elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
The leaders said they would ease the sanctions provided the junta agrees on “a short transition” period to civilian rule.
The summit appointed presidents Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Patrice Talon of Benin and Faure Gnassingbe of Togo as mediators in Niger's socio-political crisis.
But in a statement, Niger’s military administration said the invitation of some leaders of the ousted government to a summit of ECOWAS leaders while maintaining sanctions on the country was “incomprehensible.”
Former Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou represented Niger at the summit.
“Niger strongly condemns this umpteenth provocation by ECOWAS which is likely to undermine any effort to find a diplomatic and negotiated solution to the current political situation,” said the statement read on national television.
“ECOWAS cannot indeed decide on the one hand to suspend Niger from all its bodies and on the other hand, allow fugitives to illegally represent our country.”
Denouncing continued sanctions imposed on the country, the military accused the regional bloc of harboring “a subversive plan to destabilize Niger through the formation of a so-called parallel government supported by foreign powers.”
There was no immediate reaction from the regional bloc. But the junta also criticized Nigeria’s President and ECOWAS Chairperson Bola Ahmed Tinubu of continuing to “shelter in his country individuals wanted by the Nigerien justice system and who participate in the organization of the destabilization of Niger from Nigeria.”
Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, the former commander of Niger's presidential guard declared himself the head of a transitional government ever since the military overthrew Bazoum.
