A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) led by former Nigerian leader Abdulsalami Abubakar has arrived in Niger for talks with the military officers who seized power and ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
The arrival of ECOWAS delegates has also been confirmed by Niger’s ruling military council.
The group arrived in Niamey, Niger’s capital, on Saturday, a day after ECOWAS military chiefs announced they were ready to act to restore constitutional order in the country.
ECOWAS defense chiefs gathered this week in Accra, Ghana’s capital, to finalize plans for a possible military intervention to restore Bazoum if continuing talks with coup leaders fail.
Chronicle NG reports that the regional bloc had agreed to activate a “standby force” as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger after generals toppled and detained Bazoum.
However, the West African group has stated that it prefers talks to settle the problem.
Meanwhile, a source close to the new delegation said it planned to give “a message of firmness” to army officers and meet with Bazoum.
“We are ready to go any time the order is given,” Abdel-Fatau Musah, commissioner for political affairs and security of the West African bloc said on Friday after the military chiefs’ meeting.
