Niger: UK Defence Minister supports ECOWAS effort
…meets with military chiefs
The United Kingdom supports the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in calling for the peaceful restoration of constitutional order and democracy in Niger, Minister of State for the Armed Forces James Heappey MP said.
Heappey who stated this on Wednesday when he met ECOWAS Chief of Defence Staff said “ we’ll work with both ECOWAS and our partners across West Africa to support them in that aim.”
The minister met with top defence leaders and military chiefs in Nigeria to deepen defence cooperation between both countries and discuss the situation in Niger.
During his visit, Heappey met top brass within the Nigerian Ministry of Defence, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; and Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
The UK defence minister also met with Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
He also met with the President of ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, and he reiterated the UK’s support for ECOWAS’ ongoing diplomatic efforts to ensure a peaceful return to democracy in Niger Republic.
Said Heappey, “I’m delighted to return to Nigeria for the third time in three years.
“The UK and Nigerian armed forces have a longstanding partnership through which we continue to tackle violent extremism and other security threats in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
“The UK supports ECOWAS in calling for the peaceful restoration of constitutional order and democracy in Niger and we’ll work with both ECOWAS and our partners across West Africa to support them in that aim.”
He said the UK recognised Nigeria’s diplomatic mediation efforts to peacefully restore democracy in Niger, through its membership of ECOWAS, and condemns in the strongest possible terms the ongoing coup against Niger’s elected-leadership.
“We stand with ECOWAS in condemnation of the illegal detention of President Mohamed Bazoum, his family, and members of the government, as well as the unacceptable conditions under which they are being held, and call for their immediate release,” he said.
On Tuesday, former Nigerian Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, said that his delegation’s meeting with Niger Republic coup leaders over the weekend was fruitful.
The ECOWAS special envoy said diplomacy won’t fail to restore the democratically elected government of the deposed President.
The coup leader, Abdourahamane Tiani, had said the junta will return to civilian rule within three years but ECOWAS rejected the move.
Meanwhile, the African Union has suspended Niger Republic over the ongoing situation.
Army officers toppled Bazoum on July 26, prompting the West African regional bloc ECOWAS to threaten to use force to reinstate him.
ECOWAS agreed to activate a “standby force” as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger.
It has said it is ready to act, even as it continues to pursue hopes for a diplomatic solution.
