The Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Bola Tinubu on Sunday denounced the coup by military leaders in Niger Republic, saying Africa has come of age.
Tinubu, Nigeria’s President, announced this during an Extra-Ordinary Summit on the political situation in Niger in Abuja.
In a briefing to regional leaders, Tinubu expressed ECOWAS’s concern with the Niger Republic coup.
“Africa has come of age, we reject coup and interruption to constitutional order,” the Nigerian leader said amid applause.
“As African leaders, it is our sheer responsibility to foster stability and progress, placing the wellbeing of our people at the forefront of our endeavours.
“Working together towards their prosperity and happiness must always constantly be our goal and consistently, we will stand with our people in freedom and our commitment to the rule of law and not the barrel of gun.”
Late Wednesday, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the chief of Niger’s powerful presidential guard took power after a military coup. The action has since been condemned by the United Nations, African Union, the European Union, the United States among other world and regional leaders.
Tchiani, 59, has shunned the limelight despite a stellar military career which saw him lead the elite 700-member unit from 2011 up until now.
On Friday, Tchiani declared himself leader after staging a takeover that began on Wednesday when his presidential guards seized President Mohamed Bazoum and sequestered him in the presidential palace.
Niger is an extremely poor nation but with vast uranium deposits. It has suffered four coups since independence from France in 1960 and several other failed putsch attempts and is currently in the throes of jihadist violence like its neighbours.