In a statement dated July 27, 2023, ECOWAS condemned the coup d’état perpetrated against the government of Mohamed Bazoum and demanded the “immediate release of President Bazoum, who remains the recognized legitimate and legal President of Niger.”
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been closely monitoring the ongoing developments in the Republic of Niger since Wednesday, July 26, 2023. In a statement on Thursday, the institution declared that it does not recognize the junta claiming to take power through Communiqué No. 1 from the Armed Forces Headquarters.
According to the regional institution’s statement, it “strongly rejects this published Communiqué and condemns this coup, which is a total violation of the democratic principles that underpin the management of political power in the ECOWAS space.” Furthermore, ECOWAS “demands the immediate release of President Mohamed Bazoum, who remains the legitimate and legal President of Niger, recognized by ECOWAS.”
Lastly, the organization reaffirms “its strong opposition to any change of political power through unconstitutional means and demands an immediate and unconditional return to constitutional order in Niger.”
In Niger, military personnel claim to have overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum. They have closed the borders and imposed a nighttime curfew. ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), and several countries have condemned this coup d’état in West Africa. It is worth noting that the ousted President was elected in February 2021 in the second round of presidential elections in Niger, securing 55.75% of the votes.
