Former Nigerian Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar has stated that his delegation’s meeting with Niger Republic coup leaders over the weekend was fruitful.
Diplomacy, according to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) special envoy, will not fail to restore the democratically elected administration of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
On Tuesday, Abdulsalami informed the ECOWAS Chairperson and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu of the outcome of his delegation’s meeting with the coup leaders in the adjacent nation.
Speaking to reporters following the meeting at Aso Villa in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, Abdulsalami emphasized that no one wants war and that diplomacy will succeed.
“As you are aware, the ECOWAS Heads of State have made me an envoy to the Niger Republic, and over the weekend, we were there to see the military people and discuss and find a way out of the lacuna we find ourselves in,” the envoy stated.
“I must say that our trip to Niger was very fruitful.” It has opened the door for us to begin talking, and perhaps we will get somewhere.
“We’ve started talking; they made their points, and I made mine, and I report to the ECOWAS chairperson, who will now consult with his colleagues.”
“Hopefully, diplomacy will prevail.” Nobody wants to go to war; it pays no one. Our leaders have indicated that even if everything fails, which I doubt, we will get somewhere and get out of this mess.”
The coup leader, Abdourahamane Tiani, stated that the junta would return to civilian power within three years, but ECOWAS opposed the idea.
Meanwhile, the African Union has suspended the Niger Republic due to the current circumstances.
Army commanders deposed Bazoum on July 26, causing the West African regional body ECOWAS to threaten to use force to restore him.
ECOWAS decided to launch a “standby force” as a last option to restore democracy in Niger.
It has stated that it is ready to act, even as it pursues diplomatic solutions.
The coup has increased worldwide concern about the Sahel, which is facing escalating Islamist insurgencies connected to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State organisation.
Following Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali, Niger is the fourth West African country to face a coup since 2020.
Burkina Faso and Mali’s juntas have stated that any military action against their neighbour would be regarded as a “declaration of war” against their country.
The coup is the seventh in Niger’s history since the poor, landlocked country earned independence from France in 1960.
Bazoum’s election in 2021 was a watershed moment, ushering in the country’s first peaceful power change.
Since the coup, he has been kept with his family inside the president’s official mansion, prompting worldwide alarm over his incarceration circumstances.
