The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, on Wednesday, has said the UK aligns with the stance taken by ECOWAS on the military coup in Niger Republic, which ousted Mohamed Bazoum last week.
Briefing State House correspondents shortly after an audience with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Cleverly said, “We touched briefly on the situation in Niger. I made the point that the UK very much welcomes ECOWAS’ and his (Tinubu’s) indeed decisive action, his strong commitment to democracy, and the unambiguous message that violence is not the means to bring political change in any circumstance.
“And that the commitment to democracy in Nigeria and the region is unwavering.”
Last Sunday, the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government issued a seven-day ultimatum to Niger’s military to release and reinstate President Bazoum as the legitimate Head of State and Government of the landlocked state.
This formed part of the resolutions of an extraordinary meeting of the leaders at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, to discuss developments in Niger.
Recognising Bazoum as the legitimate President, the bloc rehashed its earlier resolution to explore “all measures necessary” to restore democratic governance in Niger, including “the use of force.”
“Such measures may include the use of force. To this effect, the Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately,” President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, said when he read the communique at the end of the Extraordinary Summit.
