An ECOWAS delegation arrived this Saturday afternoon in Niamey to try once again to negotiate with the soldiers who took power in Niger, sources close to ECOWAS and the overthrown President Mohamed told AFP. Boom.
The plane landed around 1 p.m. with a delegation of emissaries from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on board, the day after the announcement by the regional organization, which said it was ready to engage in armed intervention to restore constitutional order in Niger. The delegation is notably led by the former Nigerian president, Abdulsalami Abubakar, according to the communication unit of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland (CNSP), which took power thanks to the July 26 coup.
“A message of firmness” to the military in Niamey
Abdulsalami Abubakar had already traveled to Niamey on behalf of ECOWAS on August 3, but had met neither Niger’s new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tiani, nor the ousted president. According to a source close to ECOWAS, this delegation wishes to convey “a message of firmness” to the military in Niamey and meet President Bazoum who is still being held prisoner.
On Friday, the commissioner for political affairs, peace and security of the regional organization, Abdel-Fatau Musah announced that this mission aimed to “continue to follow the peaceful path to restore constitutional order”. At the same time, ECOWAS had indicated that it was ready to engage in armed intervention to restore constitutional order in Niger.
“We are ready to intervene as soon as the order is given. The day of the intervention has also been set,” Musah said after a two-day meeting of West African chiefs of staff in Accra.