The extraordinary ECOWAS summit currently being held in Nigeria in Abuja highlights the worrying political situation in Niger. Following the coup ten days ago, the leaders of the region must decide between dialogue or a military operation to resolve the crisis. Niger’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, is still being held by the putschists, raising UN concerns about his conditions of detention.
The President of Nigeria and ECOWAS, Bola Tinubu, opened the summit with a diplomatic speech, stressing the importance of stability in Niger for the development and prosperity of the whole region. The West African leaders present, including Alassane Ouattara of the Ivory Coast and Macky Sall of Senegal, as well as representatives of the African Union and the United Nations, will have to work to find a solution to this crisis.
While tensions persist between ECOWAS and the putschists, the latter continue to consolidate their power by appointing a new government composed mainly of soldiers. Despite the economic sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, the military refuse any dialogue and seem intransigent. However, some signs of rapprochement were observed, notably during the meeting between the former Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, and General Abdourahamane Tiani, underlining the potential importance of dialogue in resolving this crisis.
The ECOWAS summit holds great significance for the organization itself, as its very existence is in question in the face of the failure of previous attempts to find a way out of the crisis. West African leaders will therefore have to carefully choose the best option to adopt, while bearing in mind that all possibilities are still on the table.
In conclusion, the ECOWAS summit in Nigeria highlights the worrying political situation in Niger and the need for the leaders of the region to find a solution to this crisis. Between dialogue and military operation, the choices are difficult, but the main objective is to restore stability and democracy in the country