The African Union (AU) yesterday asked its committee to compile a list of members of the junta and their supporters in the Republic of Niger with a view to targeted sanctions and "implementation of measures". individual punishment".
This would complement the sanctions already imposed by the Economic Community of West African States and ECOWAS leaders on the junta that the AU also adopted.
The AU also requested a report on the impact assessment of the ECOWAS reserve force, following threats from the economic grouping to take a military approach if the putschists fail to recover. democratic governance and restore power to ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
According to News, It should be recalled that ECOWAS rejected the three-year plan of the new military junta in the Sahelian country to return the country to democracy.
This happened on the day the former head of state of the Nigerian army and the head of the ECOWAS delegation to Niger, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Retired), formally presented to President Bola Tinubu, at the Villa presidential election in Abuja, conditions set forth by the military junta to the sub-region to resolve the domestic political crisis.
This comes even as suspected armed Islamists have killed 12 soldiers in the remote southwestern region of Niger, according to state television yesterday.
The AU resolutions, in a statement issued by the agency yesterday, were adopted at a council meeting held on 14 August.
The agency also suspended Niger from all post-coup activities and told its members to avoid any action that might legitimize the military junta.
Last month's coup alarmed Western allies and African democracies, who fear it could allow Islamist groups operating in the Sahel region to expand their influence and give Russia a support foothold to increase influence.
ECOWAS has attempted to negotiate with the authorities but has said it is ready to send troops to Niger to restore constitutional order if diplomatic efforts fail.
In a rare sign of progress yesterday, ECOWAS mediator Abdulsalami Abubakar said his weekend visit to Niger had been "very productive" and that he remained hopeful for a peaceful resolution.
“Nobody wants to go to war,” he told reporters in Abuja after informing President Bola Tinubu of the mission. “We started talking. They (the authorities) made their own case. I hope we'll come up with something," he said without providing further details.
In its statement, the AU Peace and Security Council also noted the decision of ECOWAS to activate the reserve force and asked the AU Committee to assess the economic, social and security impact of the deployment. deploy that force.
The AU reiterates its call to the coup d'etatists to immediately release President-elect Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held since the coup, and return him to his barracks.
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