The African Union (AU) has suspended the Republic of Niger after the military junta that ousted the country’s President Mohamed Bazoum ignored sanctions and persuatioms from different quarters including from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), now with a condition that the troubled nation can only return when constitutional order is restored in that country.
The pan-African bloc reached the decision to suspend Niger from AU membership when one of its organs, the Peace and Security Council of the AU Commission met to discuss the situation in the western African country, AU said in a statement.
“The council decided to immediately suspend the participation of Niger from all activities of the AU and its organs and institutions until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country,” AU said.
AU reiterated its unequivocal condemnation of the military coup that took place on July 26 in Niger.
The security council of the Union also reaffirmed its full solidarity with the efforts of ECOWAS in its continued commitment to the restoration of constitutional order through diplomatic means.
“The council strongly rejected any external interference by any actor or any country outside the continent in the peace and security affairs in Africa.
“It also rejects engagements by private military companies in the continent in line with the 1977 OAU Convention for the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa, the statement added.
“The council strongly rejected any external interference by any actor or any country outside the continent in the peace and security affairs in Africa.
“It also rejects engagements by private military companies in the continent in line with the 1977 OAU Convention for the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa, the union said.
