Ecowas final Communique on the political situation in Niger

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.