Following last month’s coup, the African Union suspended Niger from all of its institutions and activities on Tuesday “until the effective restoration of constitutional order.”
The bloc stated in a communiqué issued on Tuesday that its decision to suspend Niger was prompted by the military junta’s refusal to hand over power to the democratically elected President, Mohammed Bazoum.
“The AU decides, in line with the relevant AU instruments, in particular, the AU Constitutive Act, the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance, to immediately suspend the participation of the Republic of Niger in all activities of the AU and its Organs and institutions until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country.
“The AU, in this regard, calls upon all Member States of the AU and the international community at large, including bilateral and multilateral partners, to reject this unconstitutional change of government and to refrain from any action likely to grant legitimacy to the illegal regime in Niger.”
The AU also praised the Economic Community of West African States for its efforts to restore democratic rule in Niger.
“The AU commends the efforts of ECOWAS under the leadership of H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and calls on AU Member States to fully implement the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS and endorsed by the PSC, and requests the Commission, in consultation with ECOWAS, to regularly inform the Council on the progress being made on the implementation of the imposed sanctions.”
