ECOWAS Regrets Interruption of Dialogue and Condemns Coup Attempt in Country

18 February 2010
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Economic Community of West African States (Abuja)
press release

ECOWAS has received news of an attempted coup d'état in Niger. Gunshots have been heard near the Presidential Palace and the President Tandja is held by putchists.

ECOWAS in accordance with its Protocol on Democracy and Good governance rejects any change of power through unconstitutional means and violence. In the same way ECOWAS had earlier condemned the change of the Constitution and the referendum held in August 2009 carried out by President Tandja. It is for this reason that ECOWAS has been seeking a mediated settlement of the constitutional crisis through dialogue and reconciliation.

ECOWAS leaders had, during their 37th Summit held in Abuja on February 16th 2010, urged the two parties to show greater flexibility and put the interest of the country above all other considerations in order to end the current impasse and quickly return the country to constitutional legality.

ECOWAS reiterates the call of the Summit of Heads of State and Government to all Nigeriens parties to accept to go back to the negotiating table so as to achieve a consensus on the Constitutional governance of the country.

ECOWAS wishes to assure Nigeriens of the readiness of the ECOWAS Mediator with the African Union and the President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, to facilitate dialogue. ECOWAS emphasizes the need to resort to peaceful ways of settling differences as it is only dialogue and negotiation that parties can reach consensus.

Read the original article on Ecowas.

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