Crisis in Niger: Military regime says it’s open to diplomatic channels

As the threat of military intervention from ECOWAS approaches, putschists in Niger are beginning to discuss. The military regime has said it is open to resolving the crisis through diplomatic channels, the head of a delegation of Nigerian clerics said on Sunday, the day after his visit to Niamey.

General Abdurahaman Tiani “said that his door was open to explore the path of diplomacy and peace in order to resolve” the crisis, Sheikh Bala Lau, who led the mediation mission with the consent of Nigerian President Bol, said in a press release. Tinubu (also current chairman of the Economic Community of West African States).

Apologies from Tiani

Also according to this press release, General Tiani during their meeting “also apologized for not paying due attention to the group sent by President Tinubu and led by the former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.”

On August 3, an ECOWAS delegation led by General Abubakar landed in Niamey, but departed just a few hours later without meeting the country’s new leader, General Tiani.

Last Tuesday, another delegation, this time consisting of representatives from ECOWAS, the African Union (AU) and the UN, was unable to travel to Niamey, citing security concerns.

According to a religious mediation press release, General Tiani said it was “hurt” for those responsible for the coup that ECOWAS leaders “did not hear their side of the facts before issuing them an ultimatum.”

Putschists describe ‘imminent threat’

On July 30, four days after the coup, ECOWAS leaders decided to impose financial sanctions on Niger and issued a seven-day ultimatum to the military to restore constitutional order, threatening the use of force as a last resort.

Last Thursday, during the new summit, the leaders reaffirmed their support for the diplomatic path to restore President Mohamed Bazum to his functions by ordering the mobilization and deployment of an ECOWAS “reserve force”.

According to General Tiani, quoted in a religious mediation press release, the soldiers overthrew President Bazum “because of an imminent threat that would affect not only the Republic of Niger, but also Nigeria.”

Two days after the coup, General Tiani justified the army’s actions as “deteriorating security” in a country undermined by the violence of jihadist groups. According to a press release from the religious mediation, the latter is to meet with President Bola Tinubu to report to him on the content of their discussion.