The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) announced on Tuesday in a statement reporting on its meeting held on August 14, its decision to immediately suspend Niger from all organization and its organs and institutions, following the military coup perpetrated at the end of last July.
The PSC “decides (…) to immediately suspend the participation of the Republic of Niger from all activities of the AU and its organs and institutions until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country”, states the document.
In this regard, he continued, he “urges all AU Member States and the international community, including bilateral and multilateral partners, to reject this unconstitutional change of government and to refrain from any action that could confer legitimacy to the illegal regime in Niger”.
The AU organ welcomed the communiqué of the Chairperson of the AU Commission published on August 10 regarding the poor state of health and the detention of President Mohamed Bazoum. In this context, he reiterated “his demand for the immediate and unconditional release of H.E. President Mohamed Bazoum and all other detainees, and respect for their human rights, including the protection of their physical health and their moral integrity. “.
Well before these resolutions, the PSC says it “took note of the decision of ECOWAS to deploy a Standby Force and requests the AU Commission to undertake an assessment of the economic, social and security implications of the deployment of a Standby Force in Niger and to report to the Council”.
The body reaffirmed its full solidarity with the efforts of ECOWAS in its sustained commitment to the restoration of constitutional order through diplomatic means, and requested the AU Commission to appoint and deploy a High Representative to encourage ECOWAS mediation efforts.
He also requested the AU Commission, in close collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, to urgently compile and submit the list of members of the military junta and their military and civilian supporters, including those who are implicated in the violation of the fundamental rights of President Bazoum and other detainees, with a view to targeted sanctions and the application of individual punitive measures.
The PSC seized the opportunity to “firmly reject any external interference by any actor or country outside the Continent in matters of peace and security in Africa, including the engagements of private military companies on the Continent, in accordance to the 1977 OAU Convention for the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa”.
Finally, he urged “strongly the military to place the supreme interests of Niger and its people above all, and to return immediately and unconditionally to the barracks and to submit to the civil authorities in accordance with the Constitution of Niger” .
By OMA Newsletter N° 1290 of 08/22/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
