Press release:

ECOWAS Commission
Abuja, August 2023

  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 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 Snr., 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.
  1. 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. Amb. Adeoye BANKOLE, Commissioner for Peace and Security
    representing the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
    The Authority, having:
  2. 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
    Special Envoys of the Chair to Niger and various other places;
  3. Carefully considered the Report and Recommendations of the ECOWAS
    Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff;
  4. Extensively discussed the latest development in Niger since the last
    Extraordinary Summit held on 30th July 2023;
  5. 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;
  6. Taken note of the expiration of the one-week ultimatum given for the
    restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger;
  7. Decide as follows:
    a. Reiterate its strong condemnation of the attempted coup d’état and the
    continued illegal detention of President Mohamed 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
    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 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;
    l. Underscore its continued commitment to the restoration of
    constitutional order through peaceful means.
    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.

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