A delegation from the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) has arrived in the Republic of Niger for talks with military officials. A plane carrying the delegation arrived in the capital Niamey on Saturday afternoon, ahead of talks to return the country to democracy, AFP said.
A source close to the new delegation told the news agency that ECOWAS representatives will send a “decision message” to the military leaders and meet with Bazoum. Naija newspaper reported the delegation, which also included the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad. Abubakar III went to Niger for a new round of negotiations with the country’s military government led by President Abdourahmane Tchiani. Recall that at the beginning of this month, the ECOWAS representatives led by Abubakar failed to meet with President Mohamed Bazoum who has been represented, and the head of government General Abdourahamane Tiani.
ECOWAS has agreed to activate a “standby force” as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger after the generals fell and imprisoned Bazoum on July 26, but said it prefers dialogue to prevent the crisis.
Also, ECOWAS defense chiefs met this week in Ghana’s capital Ghana to revise the details of a possible military operation to restore Bazoum if the ongoing negotiations with the council leaders fail.
West African leaders say they must act after Niger becomes the fourth West African country from 2020 to punish a government, after Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso.