The Secretary-General’s Special Representation for West Africa, Léonardo Simão will continue his consultations with all partners with a view to restoring constitutional order and consolidating democratic gains in Niger.
UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said this on Monday in New York while briefing journalists on the situation in Niger.
Simão, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and Chairman of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission was in Abuja, Nigeria on Sunday.
The envoy was in Abuja to participate in the extraordinary summit on the crisis, organised by regional bloc ECOWAS.
At the Abuja meeting, ECOWAS demanded the immediate release of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, who was seized by some of his guards at his official residence on July 26.
The bloc’s 15 members said they would “take all measures necessary”, including use of force, if he is not reinstated in a week.
They have also suspended commercial and financial transactions with Niger and closed air and land borders with the country.
Simão, condemned in the strongest possible terms the seizure of power by force and the undermining of democratic governance, peace and stability in Niger.
“The unconstitutional change of government in Niger has come to further complicate an already worsening security landscape in the Liptako Gourma area, and the region in general,” he said.
He added that the UN Country Team in Niger is continuing its assistance to vulnerable people there.
He also reiterated the commitment of his office and the entire UN system to work closely with ECOWAS to support of the people of Niger.
