WEST AFRICAN leaders have commenced a second emergency summit on the coup in Niger.
The summit in Abuja on Thursday comes after Niger military chiefs defied an ultimatum to restore the elected president.
Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu who doubled as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States – ECOWAS, and many others converged in Abuja, Nigeria’s political capital to discuss the next line of action.
United Nations and African Union representatives were also in attendance.
Tinubu said at the summit, that the coup in neighbouring Niger has far-reaching effects on democratically constituted governments in the sub-region.
The emergency summit entered a closed-door session after Tinubu’s opening speech.
Important decisions are expected from today’s gathering in Abuja as the coup leaders remained defiant, ignoring the deadline.
After its last Extraordinary Summit on July 30, ECOWAS had placed sanctions on the coup plotter in Niger especially.
The following measures are to be applied with immediate effect. One, closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger.
Institution of ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger.
“Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member-states and Niger. Freeze all service transactions, including energy transactions. Freeze assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks Freeze the assets of the Niger state and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks.
“Suspension of measure from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly, EBID. Call WAMU (West African Monetary Union) and all other regional bodies to implement this decision.
“Impose travel ban and asset freeze for the military officials involved in the coup attempt. The same applies to their family members and the civilians who accept to participate in any institutions or government established by these military officials”, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, said while reading out the sanctions.
