On the Foreign Scene
The African Union(AU ) has suspended Niger Republic from all its institutions and activities in response to last month’s coup, indicating that the suspension will remain in place until constitutional order is restored. The decision was made known in a statement released on Tuesday .
The African Union cited the military junta’s failure to transfer power to the duly elected President, Mohammed Bazoum, as the reason behind this move.
The organization invoked various key instruments, such as 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 justify the suspension.
The African Union also appealed to both its member states and the global community, including bilateral and multilateral partners, to reject the unconstitutional shift in government and to avoid actions that might lend legitimacy to the unlawful regime in Niger.
The AU’s commendation was extended to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for its initiatives in guiding Niger back to democratic governance. Additionally, the African Union called upon member states to adhere fully to the sanctions enforced by ECOWAS, under the guidance of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The AU requested the Commission to provide periodic updates to the Council, in coordination with ECOWAS, regarding the progress made in implementing the imposed sanctions.
