ECOWAS plans negotiating democracy return to Niger

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has set up a committee of three leaders to negotiate with Niger’s military junta on a transition to democratic rule and to consider easing sanctions.

The body stated this in a communique it issued after meeting on Sunday, held in Abuja, Nigeria.

Leaders from Togo, Sierra Leone and Benin are the three negotiators appointed to engage the Niger junta to agree “on a short transition roadmap” and work “towards the speedy restoration of constitutional order”.

“Based on the outcomes of the engagement by the committee of heads of state with the (Niger junta) the authority will progressively ease the sanctions imposed on Niger,” ECOWAS said.

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The regional body added that if the Niger junta failed to comply with the outcomes of the engagement, the sanctions would be maintained, including the possible use of force.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who is ECOWAS chairman, earlier said the bloc should try to re-engage with regional countries under military rule and support them to achieve “realistic and short” transitions to democracy.

Niger in July became the latest Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member to undergo a coup when soldiers from the presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum and set up what they called a transitional government.

In its response to the coup, ECOWAS imposed a series of economic sanctions on the juntas.

Source: Reuters