Nigeria urges ECOWAS to strive for diplomatic solutions in Niger

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Aug 2023 00:02
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Nigerian Senate President Godswill Akpabio urges fellow member countries to increase political and diplomatic efforts to address the situation in Niger as the ECOWAS deadline nears.

Nigeria's newly elected Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, seen after taking an oath of office in Abuja Nigeria, Tuesday, June 13, 2023. (AP)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is urged to put effort toward reaching diplomatic solutions vis-a-vis the Nigerien coup said Nigerian Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Nigerian President and ECOWAS Chairman Bola Ahmed Tinubu updated the country's parliament, on August 4, regarding the ECOWAS plan to take military action toward Niger as well as implement economic sanctions.

In turn, on Saturday, during the ECOWAS plenary session, Akpabio urged fellow member countries to increase political and diplomatic efforts to address the situation in Niger.

However, it was also reported that pressure is growing on Nigerian President Bola Tinubu by opposition parties to reconsider military action against neighboring Niger, ahead of the Sunday deadline to reinstate ECOWAS-backed President Mohamed Bazoum.

African countries have been criticizing #ECOWAS for its actions. pic.twitter.com/3xYc8AQanc
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 6, 2023

The military takeover in Niger was the latest in a series of rebellions led by young African leaders against governments imposed by France as part of its colonial efforts, including the recent coups in Burkina Faso and Mali and public protests in Senegal.

The uranium-rich nation is showing no signs of giving in to military threats by French-affiliated African governments, as the new widely popular leadership announced earlier that it "resolutely defend their homeland."

Behind closed doors, Nigeria's Senate met on Saturday to discuss the developing situation.

According to the country's constitution, any foreign military actions or combat engagement must be approved by the upper chamber, unless the president deems national security is under "imminent threat or danger".

"The Senate calls on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as chairman of ECOWAS to further encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to strengthen the political and diplomatic options," the Senate's President Godswill Akpabio told reporters after the talks.