President Bola Tinubu will host a special meeting of the regional leaders on Sunday, July 30, in Abuja to discuss the coup in Niger Republic.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that this was made known in a Press Statement signed by Presidential Spokesman Dele Alake.
Tinubu is the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The coup, which took place on Wednesday, July 26, saw the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum and the installation of Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani as the new leader of the country.
Tinubu, in a statement on Wednesday, condemned the coup and called for the immediate restoration of constitutional order in Niger. He also said that ECOWAS would do everything to “defend democracy and ensure democratic governance continues to take firm root in the sub-region.”
The meeting on Sunday will be the first opportunity for ECOWAS leaders to discuss the coup and decide on a course of action. They may also impose sanctions on the coup leaders.
The United States and the United Nations have condemned the coup and expressed support for ECOWAS’ efforts to restore democracy in Niger.
The full statement reads:
STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT
PRESIDENT TINUBU HOSTS ECOWAS SPECIAL MEETING ON NIGER
Following the coup in Republic of Niger that has upended the constitutional political leadership in the West Africa country, the Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Tinubu will host a special meeting of the regional leaders on Sunday, July 30th in Abuja.
President Tinubu as Chairman of ECOWAS, in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday July 26, 2023, condemned the current political situation in the neighbouring country and promised that ECOWAS and the international community would do everything to defend democracy and ensure democratic governance continues to take firm root in the sub-region.
US Vice President Kamala Harris and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in separate telephone calls Thursday evening with President Tinubu affirmed the support of the US and UN for the position taken by ECOWAS and the Nigerian leader to restore constitutional order in Niger.
Dele Alake
Special Adviser to the President
Special Duties, Communications & Strategy
July 28, 2023
