U.S. urges ECOWAS to remove Niger coup plotters, return Bazoum to power

U.S. urges ECOWAS to defend constitutional order in Niger and maintain “zero tolerance for unconstitutional change.”

PRESS RELEASE • July 31, 2023

ECOWAS LEADERS AND BIDEN

Extraordinary ECOWAS Summit on Niger

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The United States welcomes and commends the strong leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government to defend constitutional order in Niger, actions that respect the will of the Nigerien people and align with enshrined ECOWAS and African Union principles of “zero tolerance for unconstitutional change.”

We join ECOWAS and regional leaders in calling for the immediate release of President Mohamed Bazoum and his family and the restoration of all state functions to the legitimate, democratically-elected government.

The United States further welcomes the dispatch of the special representative of the ECOWAS Chair to Niger and urges all parties to work with ECOWAS for a peaceful and expeditious resolution of the current situation.

The United States will remain actively engaged with ECOWAS and West African leaders on next steps to preserve Niger’s hard-earned democracy.

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