James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, affirmed the UK’s endorsement of the stance adopted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regarding the military coup in Niger Republic, which led to the removal of Mohamed Bazoum last week.
While speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Cleverly stated, ‘We touched briefly on the situation in Niger. I made the point that the UK very much welcomes ECOWAS’ and his (Tinubu’s) indeed decisive action, his strong commitment to democracy and the unambiguous message that violence is not the means to bring political change in any circumstance.’
‘And that the commitment to democracy in Nigeria and the region is unwavering.’
It is worth noting that last Sunday, the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government issued a seven-day ultimatum to Niger’s military, demanding the release and reinstatement of President Bazoum as the legitimate Head of State and Government of the landlocked state.
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The resolutions were part of the outcomes of an extraordinary meeting held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, where the leaders gathered to discuss the developments in Niger.
Acknowledging Bazoum as the legitimate President, the bloc recapped its earlier resolve to explore ‘all measures necessary’ to resuscitate democratic governance in Niger, including ‘the use of force.’
‘Such measures may include the use of force. To this effect, the Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately,’ President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, stated when reading a communique at the conclusion of the Extraordinary Summit.
In addition to the seven-day ultimatum, the ECOWAS Authority at the Summit introduced immediate sanctions on Niger, which included the closure of land and air borders between member-states and Niger.
Moreover, they set up a no-fly zone for all commercial flights to and from Niger and suspended all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger.
The ECOWAS suspended Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with financial institutions within the region, and it also urged the West African Monetary Union and other similar regional bodies to immediately implement the resolutions.
Referring to ECOWAS’ response, Cleverly said, ‘This very much support the UK’s position.’
‘We wish to see peace and democracy restored in Niger.’
‘And we will, of course, continue to liaise with our strong friends in the region, membership of ECOWAS, of course, including Nigeria, as we seek to bring about stability, peace and democracy to Niger.’