AU gives Niger coup leaders 15 days  to return   barracks

The African Union (AU), world leaders and regional blocs have roundly condemned the coup against Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum by members of the presidential guard, with AU giving the leaders of the military coup in the country 15 days to return to the barracks and restore democratic governance.

The AU  called on Nigeriens and Africans to “join their voices in unanimous condemnation of this coup attempt, and for the immediate and unconditional return of the felon soldiers to their barracks”.

The AU warned of severe consequences if the military chiefs did not heed the call.

The African regional body’s  threat came after the US and the European Union issued similar rebuff of the coup leaders who sacked the civilian government of President Mohammed Bazoum who was elected in 2021 in the first civilian handover of power.

On Friday the head of the presidential guards unit Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani declared himself Niger’s new leader.

He said insecurity, economic woes and corruption led him to seize power.

The ECOWAS Commission, which manages the programmes of the 15-nation regional power bloc, said it “condemns in the strongest terms the attempt to seize power by force and calls on the coup plotters to free the democratically elected president of the republic immediately and without any condition”.

President Bola Tinubu, who was selected this month as the ECOWAS Commission’s chairman, said the regional bloc’s leadership would resist any attempt to unseat Niger’s government.

The regional body has dispatched the President of Benin, Patrice Talon, to Niger to mediate the governance crisis in that country.

The Chairman of ECOWAS Bola Tinubu, disclosed this to journalists after he met behind closed doors with Mr Talon at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The ECOWAS Chairman has also convened an Extraordinary Summit on the political situation in the Republic of Niger holds on July 30 in Abuja.

ECOWAS leaders at the summit would be considering and discussing the political situation and recent developments in Niger Republic.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also condemned “in strongest terms” any effort to seize power by force in Niger and called on all actors to exercise restraint, his office said in a statement.

Algeria, Nigeria and Benin Republic and other African countries have issued statements condemning the attempted coup while also reaffirming the rejection of any unconstitutional changes to government.

France said it condemned any attempt to seize power through violence. It says it does not recognise any of the coup’s leaders and will only recognise Mr Bazoum as head of state.

“We reiterate in the strongest terms the international community’s clear demand for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and democratically elected civilian power,” a statement from the French foreign ministry read.

United Kingdom’s junior foreign minister Andrew Mitchell has said that Britain condemns any attempt to undermine stability and democracy in Niger.

“The UK condemns in the strongest possible terms any attempt to undermine stability and democracy in Niger,” Mitchell said in a statement.

“The UK joins the African Union and Economic Community of West African States in their calls to end the unacceptable events seen today, and to ensure the full and swift restoration of Niger’s democratically elected institutions.”

The United States demanded Bazoum’s release and said it was “deeply concerned” with the events unfolding in Niamey.

“The United States is deeply concerned about today’s developments in Niger,” the White House said in a statement.

“We specifically urge elements of the presidential guard to release President Bazoum from detention and refrain from violence.”

Deposed President Mohamed Bazoum was the first elected leader to succeed another since independence in 1960.

Mr Bazoum is currently thought to be in good health, and still held captive by his own guards.