The National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland (CNSP) has released a press release on the evening of Sunday August 13, 2023, where he announced that he had evidence of high treason and attack on the internal and external security of Niger against the ousted president and his accomplices.

The Nigerien military authorities indicate that “the Nigerien government has gathered, to date, the necessary elements of evidence to prosecute, before the competent national and international authorities, the ousted president and his local and foreign accomplices for high treason and breach of security.

Interior and exterior of Niger following its exchanges with nationals, foreign Heads of State and heads of international organizations”.

To this end, the CNSP denounces the most fanciful and misleading allegations conveyed by certain lobbies in relation to West African political leaders at the highest level and their international mentors.

In this statement read by Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, “the CNSP and the transitional government strongly denounce the campaign of intoxication and disinformation thus deliberately maintained for the sole interest of an individual and his clan, in the aim of discrediting the Transitional authorities of Niger and causing the failure of any negotiated solution to end the crisis in order to better justify a military intervention subcontracted to a foreign power by certain Heads of State in the name of ECOWAS”.

 Also, according to the CNSP press release, “the transitional authorities of Niger regret this attitude of a certain international community which consists in showing its solidarity with a few politicians of the deposed regime and at the same time lacking empathy towards the populations of Niger hard hit by the illegal, inhuman and humiliating sanctions of ECOWAS which go so far as to deprive the country of pharmaceutical products, basic food products and the supply of electric current”.

With regard to the leaders of the deposed regime arrested, the CNSP and the Transitional government reaffirm their firm will to respect our laws and regulations as well as Niger’s commitments in terms of human rights and in doing so to treat them with humanism. in accordance with our traditional and religious values,” the statement read.

“With regard to the specific case of the deposed president, the CNSP and the Transitional government invite anyone of good will, peace-loving, justice to question the sincerity of his claim to maintain that he is sequestered then even that the soldiers have never invested his presidential residence and that he still has all the means of communication”, reports the press release 27 of the CNSP.

In addition, the CNSP and the Transitional government recall that “the deposed president regularly receives visits from his doctor and that the latter’s last visit dates back to Saturday August 12, 2023 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also, after this visit, the doctor did not raise any problem as to the state of health of the deposed president and the members of his family, as confirmed by a message from the person concerned to his relatives and to the international media.

 “Finally, the CNSP and the Transitional government salute the resilience and solidarity of the people of Niger who are showing great dignity in the face of this ordeal from which they intend to learn all the necessary lessons and come out of it strengthened and grown, before to reassure Nigeriens that, on the instructions of the President of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Party, General Abdourahamane Tiani, “all urgent measures are being taken to mitigate as much as possible the impact of ECOWAS sanctions on our brave people.

The ECOWAS Parliament has formed a mediation team to visit Niger Republic and address the crisis resulting from the recent coup d’état and detention of President Mohammed Bazoum.

The decision was made during the 2023 First Virtual Extraordinary Session held from August 11 to 12, coordinated from the Abuja ECOWAS Parliament building.

The Secretary General of the ECOWAS Parliament presented the Niger situation report, focusing on the response of the heads of state and pertinent ECOWAS measures.

Subsequently, Members of Parliament were invited to share their input during the open floor discussion.

Chaired by Hon. Idris Wase, the 1st Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament from Nigeria, the committee will consult with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, before heading to Niger Republic.

Other notable members include Hon. Ibrahima from Togo, Hon. Edwin Melvin Snowe from Liberia, Hon. Foutoumatta Njai from Gambia, and Senator Ali Ndume from Nigeria.

Representatives from Senegal, Ghana, Cape Verde, Benin Republic, and Guinea Bissau are also part of the committee.

The Speaker of the Parliament, Hon. Sidie Mohammed Tunis, directed the committee to engage in dialogue with the ECOWAS Authority Chairman and formulate mediation strategies within the next two days.

Concerns were raised about potential instability, democratic setbacks, and security challenges due to the situation in Niger and neighboring countries, including the risk of armed militias and terrorist groups.

During the virtual session, Parliamentarians expressed support for diplomatic efforts over military intervention to resolve the crisis.

More than a hundred trucks bound for Niger are blocked in Malanville, the border town between Benin and Niger, following the coup. The blockage has been going on for over a week, with Benin having closed its border with Niger in accordance with one of the decisions taken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Transporters in the border town lament they have been hard hit.

“When you’re parked like that, the (validity if the) insurance runs out every day, the technical inspection too, the papers are running out,” says Ousmane Ouataro, a truck driver on his way to Niger. “Let’s not even talk about the food here. How much are you going to eat in two weeks? The apprentices, you have two apprentices, they’re going to spend 1,000 CFA francs a day (about 1.52 euros, ed) on food.” Ouataro added.

Rabiou Garba, President of the Syndicat des transporteurs et des importateurs nouveaux associés du Bénin (Syntra-Inab), spoke to Bip radio on Tuesday August 8, 2023. “Many trucks have stopped at Kandi” because the Malanville fleet has a capacity of 200 trucks,” Garba said on the radio. “600 trucks and on one truck, there’s more than one or even two containers loaded. So there are billions in backlogs,” he stressed. 

Issiaka Bassé, a truck diver on the way to Niger also laments the situation. “We left our families to go and get something to eat to feed our families. We don’t know what’s going on. We’re stuck here. We’re going on about 16 days today. We’re asking the African population to sort out their problems, to let us through – we’ll unload our luggage, turn around and go back to our families in peace, as we should.” 

The West African bloc on Thursday approved the deployment of what it called a “standby force to restore constitutional order” in Niger following an emergency summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja. Their meeting of defense chiefs scheduled for Saturday, August 12 has however been suspended.

On Thursday, the Governors from the South-Eastern states came together at the Government House in Enugu State.

These governors, forming the South-East Governors’ Forum, include Dr. Peter Mbah (Enugu), Alex Otti (Abia), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), and Senator Hope Uzodimma (Imo).

This meeting is significant as it marks the first gathering among these five governors since the new governors took office on May 29, 2023.

One of the key topics expected to be discussed prominently on the agenda is the recent sit-at-home event that took place on Monday in the region.

Additionally, there will likely be discussions about the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra, who has been held in the custody of the Department of State Services since June 2021.

More information will be provided later regarding the meeting’s details.

The Executive Secretary, of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam has charged the staff of the Commission to work towards the realization of the vision of the Commission by striving for the best.

He gave this charge during an interactive meeting with all the staff of the Commission at the NCPC Chapel on 7th August 2023.

Taking his exhortation from the book of Exodus chapter 14 verses 4-14, Rev. Pam urged the staff to continue to put in their best in their various Departments and units. He further urged them to build faith in God as faith would make them to be bold.

According to him “We must move on, we must keep the vision of NCPC going’’. He further stated, “We must be bold to make this place work”, he affirmed.

He admonished the staff to shun all manners of fear, stating that fear is a torment. He, therefore, affirmed that the staff must make bold to make Christian Pilgrimage work.

Rev. Pam enjoined the staff of the Commission to be disciplined at all times and ensure maximum cooperation with the Management to move the Commission forward.
He thanked the staff for their resilience and doggedness in the face of economic challenges facing the country.

He however assured them that there would be light at the end of the tunnel and should be focused and optimistic that the best is yet to come.

The staff of the Commission’s six zonal offices participated in the interactive meeting virtually.