Niger coup: ECOWAS leaders arrive abuja, commence 2nd extraordinary meeting (VIDEO)

• They are in Nigeria to meet on the political situation and the coup in Niger Republic
• The meeting is being hosted by President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with other regional leaders in attendance

The leaders of the countries that make up the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, have arrived in Abuja.

They are in Nigeria to meet on the political situation and the coup in Niger Republic.

The meeting is being hosted by President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with other regional leaders in attendance.

Happening Now: 2nd Extra-Ordinary Summit on the Socio-Political Situation in the Republic of Niger. Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria is giving his opening address https://t.co/XRol8E07dK pic.twitter.com/x3Q1105GXT

— Daddy D.O🇳🇬 (@DOlusegun) August 10, 2023

The 2nd Extra-Ordinary summit on the coup in Niger has President Julius Maada Bio (Sierra Leone), President.Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco (Guinea Bissau), President Everiste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), President Alassane Ouattara (Cote d’Ivoire), President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (Mauritinia), and President Nana Akofo-Ado (Ghana) in attendance.

Others are President Macky Sall (Senegal), President Patrice Talon (Benin), President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé Eyadéma (Togo) and President Adama Barrow (The Gambia).

Within Nigeria had earlier reported that leaders from the West African bloc, ECOWAS, would meet on Thursday for an emergency summit on the coup in Niger after the country’s military chiefs defied an ultimatum to restore the elected president.

Two weeks after the coup that ousted Mohamed Bazoum, ECOWAS said it was seeking a diplomatic means but has not ruled out using force to resolve the political impasse.

Important decisions are expected from the gathering in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, according to a statement from the 15-nation organisation on Tuesday.

Struggling to curtail the spate of coups among its members since 2020, the bloc gave the troops who seized power on July 26 until last Sunday to reinstate Bazoum or face the potential use of force.

But the coup leaders were undeterred and the deadline elapsed without action.

In their latest show of resistance against international pressure, the military leaders named a new government, according to a decree read out on national television on Thursday