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Tag: African Union (AU)

  • African Union Holds Urgent Meeting Regarding Detention of President Bazoum Following Niger Coup

    African Union Holds Urgent Meeting Regarding Detention of President Bazoum Following Niger Coup

    By Daniel Edu

    In response to the ongoing crisis in the Niger Republic, the African Union (AU) has convened an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the situation arising from the ousting and detainment of the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

    It is recalled that on July 26, 2023, the military in Niger orchestrated a coup that led to the removal of Bazoum from his presidential position.

    Since then, the military regime has detained Bazoum and subsequently issued a death threat against him.

    The AU made an announcement on its Twitter page on Monday morning, indicating that the Peace and Security Council are in session to address the developments in Niger.

    “The AU’s Peace & Security Council convenes to receive an update on the situation in Niger and the efforts being undertaken to address it,” the pan-African organization shared on its microblogging platform.

    The meeting is being conducted at the AU headquarters situated in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

    Among the participants are AU Commission Chief Moussa Faki Mahamat, along with representatives from Niger and the West African regional bloc ECOWAS.

    It is worth noting that in the preceding week, Faki expressed “deep concern” regarding the reported subpar conditions of Bazoum’s detention, deeming the treatment by the coup leaders as “unacceptable.”

    On Sunday, the military-led government in Niger declared its intention to prosecute the democratically elected Bazoum for “high treason” and criticized ECOWAS for imposing sanctions on the nation.

    Bazoum, aged 63, and his family have been confined to the official Niamey residence of the president since the occurrence of the coup.

  • Tinubu Stresses African Unity, Cautions Against New Scramble for the Continent

    Tinubu Stresses African Unity, Cautions Against New Scramble for the Continent

    President Bola Tinubu, in his capacity as chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has reiterated the importance of Africa’s unity and firmly rejected the idea of a new scramble for the continent. Speaking at the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5th MYCM) of the African Union (AU), regional economic communities, regional mechanisms, and African Union member states in Nairobi, Kenya, Tinubu emphasized the need to learn from the past plundering and exploitation of Africa and ensure it is not repeated.

    Highlighting the progress made by ECOWAS in various sectors such as trade, free movement of persons, investment promotion, infrastructure development, and security, Tinubu acknowledged the challenges faced by African nations in an uncertain and unkind world. He stressed the importance of proactive and visionary governance in overcoming these challenges, noting that passive observation of Africa’s fate is not an option.

    Addressing the notion of a new scramble for Africa, Tinubu emphasized Africa’s resilience and determination. He declared that the continent’s spirit is strong and that the mistakes of the past should stay in the past, never to be repeated. He sent a clear message to any potential new scramblers, affirming Africa’s readiness to protect its interests and forge a prosperous future based on unity and self-determination.