The African Union (AU) has yanked off Niger Republic has from all its activities with immediate effect.
The AU in a statement released on Tuesday said it suspended Niger Republic as part of punitive measures against the country for the military coup that happened on July 26.
The union in the statement called on the military junta to release elected President Mohamed Bazoum and return to their barracks.
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union after taking note of ECOWAS’ decision to activate a standby force for a possible military intervention, had asked the AU Commission to assess the economic, social, and security implications of deploying such a force.
The AU in the statement charged all its member states and the international community to desist from actions that could legitimise Niger’s junta, noting that it strongly rejects interference from any actor or country outside of Africa.
Niger’s military ruler and head of the junta, General Abdourahamane Tchiani had proposed a three-year transition plan, a proposal rejected by ECOWAS in its entirety.
Abdourahamane Tchiani in a statement said the coupists planned to return power back to civilian rulers in the next three years.
General Tchiani also said neither the junta “nor the people of Niger want war and remain open to dialogue.”
ECOWAS Commissioner, for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah in an interview with BBC, said General Tchiani’s transition proposal was unacceptable.
