ECOWAS debunks report of transition proposal for Niger Republic

By : Oluyemi Ogunseyin

Date: 1 September 2023 12:08pm WAT

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (middle) and other members of ECOWAS Heads of State after a meeting on the Niger impasse in Abuja recently.

Chairperson of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu reacts after addressing ECOWAS Head of States and Government extraordinary session in Abuja, on August 10, 2023. West African leaders came together Thursday for an emergency summit on the coup in Niger, whose new military rulers have defied an ultimatum — backed by the threat of force — to restore the elected president and pressed ahead with appointing a new government. (Photo by KOLA SULAIMON / AFP)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has debunked a report that it has proposed a nine-month transition plan for the junta in the Republic of Niger.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) published an article stating that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is also head of the West Africa bloc has suggested a nine-month transition back to democracy for Niger’s new regime as Nigeria did in 1999 to return to democracy after military rule.

ECOWAS in a statement late Thursday night said it is fake, misleading, and baseless.

“The ECOWAS Commission’s attention has been drawn to a report of a so-called ECOWAS proposed transition timeframe for Niger,” ECOWAS said.

“The report, which is in French and supposedly carried by AFP, is false and should be treated as fake news.

“The demand of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government is clear: the military authorities in Niger must restore constitutional order immediately by liberating and reinstating H.E. Excellency President Mohamed Bazoum.”
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