West African leaders expressed concern as they gathered in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Saturday for discussions on the political and security situation in coup-hit Niger and other crises affecting the region.
The ECOWAS bloc summit, attended by heads of state, focused on the recent political developments in Niger following the military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum last July.
Despite ECOWAS suspending trade and imposing sanctions, there has been little progress in restoring Bazoum, who remains incarcerated in Niamey’s presidential palace.
Ahead of the summit, legal representatives of Bazoum urged ECOWAS to actively advocate for his release. The organization, comprising 15 member states, has witnessed recent coups in four of its nations: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea. These countries have been suspended from the bloc, with no representation at the summit.
In January, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger declared their intention to permanently withdraw from ECOWAS, accusing the organization of being influenced by former colonial power France.
The leaders of these nations have expelled French ambassadors and forces, aligning themselves politically and militarily with Russia.
General Yakubu Gowon, a co-founder of ECOWAS and former Nigerian military leader, advocated for the removal of sanctions imposed on Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Niger.
The summit also addressed the political turmoil in Senegal, where President Macky Sall’s decision to delay elections sparked unrest. Calls for Sall to announce a new election date intensified, but he maintained that his term would conclude as scheduled on April 2. While Sall was expected to attend the summit, it remained unclear whether the leaders would address the Senegalese crisis.
