After the failure of the ultimatum given to the coup leaders who seized power in Niger, the President of ECOWAS, Bola Tinubu, advocates on Thursday, August 10, 2023, for diplomacy and negotiation with the Nigerien military, dismissing the possibility of a military operation by the regional bloc members.
Gathered in Abuja (Nigeria) for a crucial new summit, the Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) believe that negotiation should be the “foundation of [their] approach,” as stated by the President of the organization, Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, August 10. ECOWAS had presented an ultimatum on July 30 to the military in power, which expired on Monday without consequences.
Diplomacy, the “foundation” of ECOWAS’s approach “It is crucial that we prioritize diplomatic negotiations and dialogue as the foundation of our approach,” said the President of Nigeria, who holds the rotating presidency of ECOWAS. The organization must engage “all parties concerned, including the coup perpetrators, in serious discussions to convince them to relinquish power and restore President Bazoum,” he continued.
This is the first meeting of the leaders of the regional organization’s members since the expiration of their ultimatum issued to the military during a first summit of the organization on July 30. All the presidents of the West African bloc are participating in this summit except those from Gambia, Liberia, and Cape Verde, who have sent representatives. After President Tinubu’s speech, the Heads of State have withdrawn for a closed-door meeting.
