© Reuters. The ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defense personnel short journalism on strategies to release its standby force to the Republic of Niger, in Accra, Ghana, August 18, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko
By Felix Onuah and Boureima Balima
ABUJA/NIAMEY (Reuters) -A delegation from West Africa’s primary local bloc ECOWAS on Saturday fulfilled Niger’s ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and held talks with junta leader General Abdourahmane Tiani in the capital Niamey, a Nigerian governmental representative stated.
The West African group is pursuing diplomatic methods to reverse the July 26 coup. The coup leaders’ approval of the objective might signify a brand-new desire to work out after the bloc on Friday doubled-down on its hazard to utilize force as a last option to bring back democracy. It stated a concealed “D-Day” had actually been concurred for possible military intervention.
While previous ECOWAS objectives have actually been rebuffed, Saturday’s delegation was fulfilled at Niamey airport by the junta-appointed prime minister, an ECOWAS source stated, speaking on condition of privacy.
The group that flew in was led by Nigeria’s previous military leader Abdulsalami Abubakar and consisted of ECOWAS commission President Omar Touray, the source stated.
Nigerian governmental representative Abdulaziz Abdulaziz published a picture of the delegation conference Bazoum.
” After conference … (junta leader) General Abdoulrahmane Tchiani, the ECOWAS delegation in Niger have actually likewise gone to President Mohamed Bazoum this night,” he composed on messaging platform X, previously referred to as Twitter.
He did not share information on the result of talks.
There was no instant talk about the settlements from the junta, which has actually held President Mohamed Bazoum because taking power regardless of worldwide require his release.
However in a telecasted address to the country on Saturday night, Tiani stated neither coup leaders nor “the Nigerien individuals desire war and stay available to discussion.”
He warned that Niger stayed prepared to protect itself if required. “If an aggressiveness were to be carried out versus us, it would not be the walk in the park that some think,” he stated.
THOUSANDS VOLUNTEER TO ASSISTANCE JUNTA
ECOWAS has actually taken a more difficult position on the Niger coup, the broader area’s seventh in 3 years, than it did on previous ones. The reliability of the bloc is at stake since it had stated it would endure no more such overthrows.
Niger likewise has tactical value for local and worldwide powers since of its uranium and oil reserves and function as a center for foreign soldiers associated with the battle versus the insurgents connected to al Qaeda and Islamic State.
Highlighting the interests at stake, the U.S. State Department stated on Saturday it had actually sent out a brand-new ambassador to Niger whose “diplomatic focus will be to promote for a diplomatic service that protects the constitutional order.”
The junta’s vow to withstand external pressure to stand down has actually been praised by numerous in Niger.
Countless its fans collected at an arena in Niamey on Saturday where the crowding triggered the post ponement of an informal census of civilian volunteers for non-military functions if ECOWAS does turn to require.