War looms over Niger coup as diplomacy fails; Tinubu writes Senate, Niger cuts ties with Nigeria.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The spectre of war between countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) led by Nigeria and Niger Republic over the coup in the landlocked country that overthrew the government of President Mohammed Bazoum on July 26, 2023 is looming.
This development is coming on the heels of the collapse of diplomatic moves to resolve the impasse.
The junta in Niger Republic has cut off ties with Nigeria after the efforts of ECOWAS to resolve the impasse failed.
ECOWAS had issued a seven-day ultimatum for the reinstatement of President Bazoum to avoid possible clash with the junta.
President Bola Tinubu sent a high-powered delegation to the country to meet with the coup leaders, on Thursday.
The delegation led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) only met with representatives of the junta.
Subsequently, Niger severed ties with Nigeria, Togo, France and the United States.
“The functions of the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassadors of the Republic of Niger” to France, Nigeria, Togo and the United States are terminated,” Radio France International quoted one of the putschists to have said on national television.
On Friday, Tinubu wrote to inform the Senate of the coup in Niger Republic and the resolutions of ECOWAS on how to return the democratically elected Government to power.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read Tinubu’s letter on the floor during plenary.
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The President needs Senator authorization to commit the country’s armed forces to war.
The letter was titled: “Implementation of the resolutions of the Economic Committee of West African States (ECOWAS) on the political situation in Niger Republic.”
Tinubu said: “I present my modest compliments to the Distinguished Senate President and Distinguished Senators.
“I do have the honour to inform you that following the unfortunate political situation in Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of His Excellency, President Mohammed Bazoum on 26th July 2023, the Economic Community of West African States under my leadership condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved alongside other members of the international community to seek the return of the democratically elected Government in Niger.
“Consequently, in a bid to broker peace and restore democracy in the country, the ECOWAS convened an extra-ordinary summit of the authority of Heads of States and Governments on Sunday 30th July, 2023 in Abuja.
“The body consisted the African Union and ECOWAS Protocols on constitutional changes of Government thereafter issued a communiqué, a copy attached, on the line of action decided upon by Member States.
“As Chair of ECOWAS, Nigeria has the obligation to lead in the implementation of the directives outlined in the communique. I have directed all our extra ministerial developments and agencies including military and paramilitary agencies which actions include:
“Closure and monitoring of all land borders with Niger Republic and reactivation of the border drill exercise.
“Cutting off Electricity supply to Niger Republic; Mobilizing international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communique; Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic and Blockade of goods in transit to Niger Republic especially from Lagos and the Eastern seaports
Others are: “Embarking on sensitization of Nigerians and Nigerians on the imperative of these actions particularly via the social media.
“Military buildup and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance by the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant to the ECOWAS communique.”
On Friday, a video surfaced online where Nigeriens were mocking and deriding President Tinubu.