The ECOWAS Parliament has called for prioritisation of diplomatic option for the resolution of the political impasse in Niger engendered by the military Coup D’etat which overthrow the democratically elected President.
It further agreed to set up a peace committee that will go to Niger to interface with the military junta in order to find a way out of the impasse. For this, the Parliament mandated the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Idris Wase to lead the delegation.
The Parliament also enjoined members of the Niger delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament to join their colleagues who were members of the peace committee upon their arrival in Niger.This was the outcome of virtual Extraordinary session convened by Rt. Hon. Sidi Mohammed Tunis, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament to deliberate on the Niger political crisis.
This Extraordinary session of the Parliament was a sequel to the resolution of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government which has ordered the activation of ECOWAS standby force to compel the Niger military junta to restore constitutional order.
The ECOWAS Parliament has unequivocally condemned the Coup d’etat in Niger and had also supported some of the measures taken by the Heads of State but equally called for a prioritisation of dialogue for the resolution of the crisis.
It also resolve to send a peace negotiation team to be headed by Hon. Idris Wase.
During the discussion on the crisis, the Members of Parliament expressed divergent views concerning the nature of intervention to be effected by ECOWAS for the resolution of the impasse. For instance, Hon. Idris Wase and Hon. Ali Ndume, both from Nigeria were hostile to the decision on military intervention.
Hon. Ali Ndume in particular, vehemently opposed unilateral closing of Nigeria-Niger border and cutting of electricity without approval of the National Assembly of Nigeria.
On his part Hon. Wase while voicing opposition to the use of military force noted that any war on Niger will adversely affect 60% of Nigerians, especially Northern Nigeria.
Hon. Linda Ikpeazu in her contributions noted that ECOWAS must appraise the effectiveness of past diplomatic approaches adopted in Guinea Conakry, Mali and Burkina Faso before embarking on any option of action towards the resolution of the Niger crisis.
She cautioned ECOWAS against an option that will tactically give approval for military coups in the subregion.
Hon. Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante said that diplomacy is the way out of the Niger crisis while calling on ECOWAS to address the root cause of the ascendant military interventions in the subregion.
Recall that on 26 July 2023, the Presidential Guard in Niger launched a coup d’etat and detained President Mohamed Bazoum and his family, all attempts made by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to pressurise the military junta to return President Bazoum to power and restore constitutional democracy in Niger has thus far been rebuffed by the junta led by General Tchiani.
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