Abuja - Nigeria — ECOWAS on Saturday, 22 May 2010 praised the military government in Niger for releasing its 12-month transition timetable for restoring democracy to the country.
The country had until the military intervention of February 2010, been embroiled in political crisis over the violation of the constitution by the deposed President, Mahamadou Tandja. ' This is a quantum leap in the journey to constitutional rule, given the confusion that reigned in the country recently over how long the military intended to stay in power' the President of the ECOWAS Commission,' His Excellency, James Victor Gbeho, told the head of the military junta in the Commission's first formal reaction to the timetable.
The President, who was in the country along with former Nigerian leader and ECOWAS mediator in Niger, General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar, for wide ranging stakeholder consultations, said the publication of the timetable was a fitting response to the concerns raised by ECOWAS and the international community for the speedy restoration of democratic governance. 'We have therefore decided to return to congratulate you and the government for making progress in this process and also to assure you that ECOWAS will accompany you through this process until and beyond the installation of the new President in March 2011,' his Excellency, who is on his third visit to the country since assuming duty in March this year, said. In this regard, he explained further that the Commission will field a needs assessment mission to the country as soon as the new electoral Commission was in place to determine the assistance required to conduct a free, fair and transparent elections.
The President also spoke on the food crisis ravaging the country and the Sahel region of West Africa and pledged that ECOWAS would provide additional support beyond the $550,000 dollars already donated to the interim government for the procurement of grains for distribution especially to vulnerable citizens in the country. Responding to a request by the Nigerien leader for ECOWAS' support for the lifting of crippling European Union sanctions against the country, the President gave an assurance that 'ECOWAS will be in the same corner with Niger' during the EU meeting in Brussels later this week to review the sanctions. General Abubakar, who was appointed last year as the mediator in the political crisis, will be leading the ECOWAS team to the Brussels meeting. President Gbeho also assured the Nigerien leader that the country's suspension from ECOWAS will be considered by the body's Authority during its midyear summit in June. 'The sanctions were imposed by the Heads of State and Government and only they can lift them and you can be assured that we at the level of the Commission will give them the full picture through the Council of Ministers to enable them take a decision, ' he explained.
Responding, the leader of the ruling military government, General Djibo Salou, said the transition programme enjoys the support of the public and that structures were being put in place to enable the government redeem its pledge to restore constitutional rule and address its three priorities, including the restoration of democracy, national reconciliation and audit of public finances. Gen. Salou, who heads the ruling Committee for the Restoration of Democracy (CRSD) called for ECOWAS support in convincing the EU to lift its sanctions against the country, adding that with the support of ECOWAS and the international community, the food crisis was being gradually brought under control. Ambassador Gbeho also met with members of the diplomatic corps and praised them for their support for the restoration of civil rule and in the efforts to resolve the food crisis.
In a meeting with representatives of the country's civil society, the President said the transition timetable represents a new chapter in the country's political evolution and praised the government's emphasis on building and strengthening governance institutions as the bedrock for durable democracy and sustainable development. ' We are in favour of building strong institutions because that is the only way for ensuring durable democracy and ECOWAS is committed to ensuring a unified and prosperous region which again is possible only through good governance and sustainable development,' he told them. He also challenged them to be active in voter education and citizen sensitization so that voters can make an informed choices as 'the basis for credible elections.
The delegation also met with the Minister of foreign affairs, the Prime Minister, the President of the Constitutional Court, the President of the National Consultative Council and representatives of the MPRR, the former ruling coalition. The delegation concluded its visit on Sunday, 23rd May 2010 with discussions with former members of the opposition CFDR and observers.
