He african union (AU) through its Peace and Security Council has announced the suspension of Niger due to the current political situation in the West African country.
The AU resolved to “…immediately suspend the participation of the Republic of Niger in all activities of the AU and its bodies and institutions until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country,” according to its statement.
This is not the first time that the AU will suspend a member state due to an unconstitutional change of power. It had suspended Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso when soldiers seized power in those countries. The move did not appear to deter other coup plotters on the mainland.
The continental bloc had given Niger’s coup leaders a 15-day ultimatum to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
He also sought a meeting, along with the UN and ECOWAS, with the junta leaders, but was denied.
The AU “highly commends and supports the unremitting efforts being made by ECOWAS towards the peaceful restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger; and requests the AU Commission to appoint and deploy High Representatives to further ECOWAS mediation efforts”.
However, the bloc requested the AU Commission to carry out an assessment of the economic, social and security implications of deploying a Reserve Force in Niger and report to the Council.
ECOWAS in the last meeting of heads of state ordered the activation and deployment of a reserve force in Niger to restore constitutional status if the dialogue fails.
The defense chiefs of the subregional bloc met last week to finalize a D-day to intervene militarily in Niger.
On Tuesday, the AU called on its member states and the international community, including bilateral and multilateral partners, to reject the Niger junta and refrain from any action that could give the regime legitimacy.
It condemned the coup and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Bazoum and all the other detainees, and the respect of their human rights, including the protection of their physical health and moral integrity.
“Calls on the AU Commission, in close cooperation with the ECOWAS Commission, to urgently compile and present the list of members of the military junta and their military and civilian supporters of the coup in Niger, including those implicated in the violation of the fundamental human rights of President Bazoum and others detained by selective sanctions, and the application of individual punitive measures,” the statement recommended.
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Commending ECOWAS leadership, he called on AU member states to fully implement the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS and endorsed by the PSC.
The AU encouraged the junta in Niger to cooperate with ECOWAS and AU efforts towards a peaceful and speedy restoration of constitutional order, while appealing to Nigerians to remain calm, refrain from any action that might inflame the situation and fully embrace a peaceful approach towards the restoration of constitutional order in the country.
The AU said it “strongly rejects any external interference by any actor or country outside the continent in matters of peace and security in Africa, including engagements by private military companies on the continent.”
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