“An extraordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament was held virtually last Saturday, highlighting the heated debates around a possible military intervention in Niger. The members of Parliament, representatives of the different ECOWAS member states, were in majority opposed to this idea, highlighting the disastrous consequences it could have on vulnerable populations.
Among the voices opposing military intervention, Amadou Ali Djibo, a Nigerien parliamentarian, recalled that the sanctions currently imposed on his country have already led to the closure of many schools, and that a war would only worsen the situation. For his part, Mohammed Ali Ndume, senator from Nigeria, insisted that his country could not enter into war without the approval of the National Assembly and the UN Security Council.
At the end of this virtual meeting, representatives of the ECOWAS Parliament agreed to set up a delegation responsible for continuing negotiations with the junta in power in Niamey. The modalities of this mediation will be discussed with the president of ECOWAS, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This initiative will bring together representatives from different countries involved, in the hope of finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing crisis.
Furthermore, other actors also engage in the dialogue process. A businessman from the sub-region plans to convey a message of restoration of constitutional order to the Nigerien authorities. American diplomacy is also very active, with the prospect of a trip by a United States diplomat to Niamey. For its part, Togo has initiated discussions with the putschists with the aim of finding a negotiated solution and moving towards a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
It is important to emphasize that these dialogue and mediation initiatives are essential to avoid an escalation of violence in Niger and to find a lasting political solution to the crisis. The members of the ECOWAS Parliament have clearly expressed their desire to favor the path of diplomacy and negotiation rather than that of military intervention. We hope that these efforts will bear fruit and contribute to restoring stability and constitutional order in Niger.”