Coup in Niger Republic: ECOWAS Reacts to Unpleasant Development

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reacted to the ugly and unpleasant coup in Niger Republic stating that the leadership of ECOWAS will not tolerate any situation that incapacitated the democratically-elected government of the country.

Reports say President Mohamed Bazoum is being held inside the presidential palace in the capital while military vehicles have blocked off the palace on Wednesday morning.

In a statement by President Tinubu who is the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on Wednesday, disclosed that the leadership of ECOWAS and lovers of democracy will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa.

“I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted, and thrives in our region.

I am in close consultation with other leaders in our region, and we shall protect our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism.

As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without  equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order.”

Currently, the tension is high as ministries next to the palace have also been blocked off, and staff inside the palace have not been able to access their offices or the presidency, security sources said to Reuters.

“The rest of Niamey appeared calm, with normal morning traffic on the road and full internet access,” a Reuters reporter said.

Previous coups in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali were partly driven by frustrations over the authorities’ inability to contain the Islamist insurgency in the Sahel region, including Niger, Reuters said.