ECOWAS To Resume Negotiations With Niger Junta, Threatens to Use Force If Junta Fails to Meet Demands

During the 64th ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in Abuja on Sunday, December 10, President Bola Tinubu chaired a meeting where it was decided that talks with the military junta in Niger Republic would be resumed. 

A committee of heads of state will be established to engage with the military junta to discuss a short transition roadmap and monitoring mechanisms. ECOWAS also expressed the intention to gradually ease the sanctions imposed on Niger Republic if the military junta complies with the negotiation outcomes and releases detained President Mohammed Bazoum.

The resolution was contained in a communique read by Omar Touray, president of ECOWAS. A part of the communique reads, “Based on the outcomes of the engagement by the committee of Heads of state with the CMSP, the Authority will progressively ease the sanctions imposed on Niger."

The communique further states ECOWAS threat to use force in Niger. It says, “In the event of failure by the CMSP to comply with the outcomes of the engagement with the committee, ECOWAS shall maintain all sanctions, including the use of force, and shall request the African Union and all other partners to enforce the targeted sanctions on members of the CMSP and their associates.”

President Bola Tinubu expressed the importance of engaging with countries under military rule and assisting them in achieving a smooth transition to democracy. Recent reports indicate that Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone have also successfully prevented coup attempts. 

Tinubu emphasized that ECOWAS should be ready to support military governments with both technical and material resources to facilitate their transition goals. The juntas have faced economic sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, which are negatively impacting the impoverished population and should be lifted according to the military governments. 

Additionally, Tinubu mentioned that ECOWAS would evaluate the formation of a security alliance among member states under military rule. In September, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso signed a security pact committing to mutual support in the face of rebellion or external aggression.