The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), will reconvene on Thursday to discuss the crisis in the Republic of Niger.
ECOWAS made the announcement on yesterday – a day after its deadline to the military junta in Niger to reinstate the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
In the statement, the organisation said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and chairman of the authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of the ECOWAS leaders will be considering and discussing the political situation and recent developments in Niger during the summit”.
The summit, which will hold in Abuja, the ECOWAS headquarters, comes amid uncertainty about the bloc’s possible military intervention to restore democracy in Niger.
Tinubu, the ECOWAS chairperson, had vowed to do everything possible to reinstate the ousted Bazoum. However, the regional body’s resolve to use force, even as a last option, has been met with heavy backlash from other foreign countries, global organisations, and concerned individuals.
The Northern Senators Forum, (NSF), had asked Tinubu to exhaust all diplomatic means in resolving the crisis in Niger.
The Forum warned that deploying Nigerian troops to the Niger Republic will hurt seven northern states: Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno, which are sharing borders with the country.
According to reports, President Tinubu met with governors of five of the States that share boundaries with Niger as part of wider consultations on the political instability in the neighbouring country.
