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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Nigeria Debunks Alleged Support for Niger Coup, Reaffirms Commitment to Democracy

From ThisDay · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • Nigeria rejected claims that it or ECOWAS supported a failed coup attempt in Niger, calling social media reports false and intended to damage the country’s image.
  • Foreign Affairs Minister Sola Enikanolaiye said Nigeria opposes military coups and unconstitutional changes of government and supports a peaceful return to constitutional order in Niger.
  • Nigeria said it would continue working with ECOWAS, the African Union and international partners to promote democracy and stability in West Africa and the Sahel.

Nigeria has rejected claims that it or the Economic Community of West African States backed a recent failed coup attempt in Niger, describing the reports circulating on social media as false and mischievous.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sola Enikanolaiye said Nigeria had never supported, and would not support, a military coup or any unconstitutional change of government. In a statement issued on Thursday, he said Nigeria would not endorse illegality “no matter who is involved or which country is concerned.”

Enikanolaiye recalled Nigeria’s August 30 statement on Niger, which expressed concern over developments in the neighbouring country and called for a peaceful, inclusive and participatory return to stability and constitutional order. He said using force to resolve political differences contradicted Nigeria’s longstanding foreign policy.

no matter who is involved or which country is concerned

· Sola EnikanolaiyeThe minister said Nigeria would not endorse military coups or unconstitutional changes of government.

“While Nigeria is a proud and committed member of ECOWAS, it is unfair, mischievous and entirely false to suggest that Nigeria endorses or condones the military coup,” the minister said. He urged Nigerians at home and abroad to ignore online videos and narratives that he said aimed to sow discord and mislead the public.

Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the African Union’s zero-tolerance policy on unconstitutional changes of government. Niger shares a long land border with Nigeria and has remained a major regional diplomatic and security concern since the military takeover that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023. The coup triggered a political crisis with ECOWAS, which demanded a return to constitutional rule and imposed sanctions. Allegations of Nigerian or ECOWAS support for another intervention have added to tensions surrounding the crisis.

While Nigeria is a proud and committed member of ECOWAS, it is unfair, mischievous and entirely false to suggest that Nigeria endorses or condones the military coup

· Sola EnikanolaiyeHe rejected claims that Nigeria or ECOWAS supported a coup attempt in Niger.
About this summary

Originally published by ThisDay. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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