THE Peace and Security Council (PSC) is the standing decision-making organ of the African Union (AU) for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts.
It is a collective security and early warning arrangement intended to facilitate timely and efficient responses to conflict and crisis situations in Africa. It is also the key pillar of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), which is the framework for promoting peace, security and stability in Africa.
Tanzania Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative of the nation to the AU, Mr Innocent Shiyo, said that on the 28th July 2023 the Peace and Security Council (PSC) held its 1164th Meeting to deliberate on the Political and Security Situation in Niger.
Ambassador Shiyo noted that the Council condemned in the strongest terms possible, the military coup d’état in the Republic of Niger, which resulted in the ousting of a democratically elected President, H.E. Mohamed Bazoum on 26 July 2023 and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of President Mohamed Bazoum and all other detainees.
The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 1164th meeting held on 28 July 2023, discussed the Situation in the Republic of Niger, recalling its earlier decisions and pronouncement on the situation in Niger.
Noting the statement of the Chairperson of the Commission issued on 26 July 2023; the communique issued by the Commission of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) on 26 July 2023 and the Communique No. 2 of the ECOWAS issued on 27 July 2023 and was mindful of the relevant provisions of the AU Constitutive Act and the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, particularly Article 7 (g) and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.
PSC noted the remarks by Ambassador Mohamed Lamine Thiaw, PSC Chairperson for July 2023 and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Senegal to the AU; and the briefing by Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; and the statement by H.E. Ambassador Amadou Hassane Mai Dawa of the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Niger to the AU.
Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council expresses deep concern over the alarming resurgence of military coups d’état, which undermine democracy, peace, security and stability in the Continent; and reiterates its zero tolerance
for unconstitutional changes of government in line with Article 4(p) of the AU Constitutive Act and reaffirms total adherence to the AU normative frameworks on illegal takeover of governments on the continent.
Ambassador Shiyo said that is in line with the Declaration (Ext/Assembly/AU/Decl.(XVI)) on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government, adopted by the 16th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea in May 2022 and the Accra Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government of March 2022 adopted in Accra, Ghana.
PSC condemned in the strongest terms possible, the military coup d’état in the Republic of Niger, which resulted in the ousting of a democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum on 26 July 2023.
“It demands the military personnel to immediately and unconditionally return to their barracks and restore constitutional authority, within a maximum period of 15 days from the date of the adoption of the present Communiqué; also demands the immediate and unconditional release of President Mohamed Bazoum and all other detainees, and respect of human rights, including protection of their physical health and moral integrity and warns that Council, will take necessary action, including punitive measures against the perpetrators, should the rights of political detainees not be respected,” said Ambassador Shiyo.
The diplomat said the PSC commended the efforts of the ECOWAS under the leadership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the deployment of Patrice Talon, President of the Republic of Benin as the Special Envoy to Niger, while welcoming the convening of the Extraordinary Summit of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government scheduled for today in Abuja, Nigeria; looks forward to the outcome of the Summit.
The Tanzanian envoy said the meeting requested the Chairperson of the Commission to continue to closely monitor the situation, work in close coordination with ECOWAS and regional actors and brief the Council, as soon as possible.;
It reaffirmed the solidarity and resolute support of the AU to the people of Niger and decided to remain actively seized of the matter.
