AU Backs ECOWAS’ Decision on Niger

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The African Union has given support to the decisions of Economic Community of West African States, insisting that the treatment of President Mohamed Bazoum by the junta is unacceptable.

A communique on Friday by the Chairperson of the Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat said full support is given to August 10, 2023 decisions of ECOWAS regarding Niger.

The major decision of ECOWAS is the threat of deploying the standby military force of the subregional body.

The communique read: “The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, expresses his strong support for the decisions adopted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on anti-constitutional change in Niger.

“The Chairperson expresses his deep concern at the reported poor conditions of detention of President Mohamed Bazoum. Indeed, concordant sources attest to a worrying deterioration of such conditions.

“The Chairperson calls on the military authorities to urgently halt the escalation of relations with the regional organisation ECOWAS, including the cessation of the continued sequestration of President Bazoum in worryingly poor conditions.

“Such treatment of a democratically elected president through a regular electoral process is unacceptable. The Chairperson further calls for the immediate release of President Bazoum and all members of his family and government who are illegally detained with him. Their detention flies in the face of Nigerien law and the founding principles of the AU and ECOWAS.

“The Chairperson calls on the entire international community to unite efforts to save the moral and physical integrity of President Mohamed Bazoum.”