A new ECOWAS delegation arrives in Niger to talk with the coup junta

A new delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (cedeao) arrived today at Niamey to dialogue with the military junta that leads Niger since the coup d’état on July 26 to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis, confirmed to EFE a source from the Presidency of Nigeria.

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“Yes, a delegation from the cedeao headed by general Abdul Salami Abubakar (former president of Nigeria from 1998 to 1999) has traveled again to Niamey to talk with the coup plotters”, declared the Nigerian source, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the bloc, based in Abuja, the capital.

“The cedeao has always said that military intervention is the last resort to restore constitutional order in Niger. The board is expected to finally give him a opportunity to dialogue”, added Efe by telephone the source on condition of anonymity.

Abubakar already led another delegation from the cedeao which was unsuccessful in the attempt to mediate with the coup plotters.

The visit took place after the military chiefs of the cedeao They assured yesterday that, yes “peaceful options fail”they will opt for a military intervention “surgical” against the coup junta, after a two-day meeting in the capital of Ghana, Accra.

“If all peaceful options fail, we will opt for the military option, which will be surgical and short-lived.”, warned the bloc’s commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel Fatau Musahalthough he guaranteed that the cedeao will continue to advocate diplomacy to restore constitutional order in Niger.

According to the commissioner, all the countries represented in those conversationsen have already confirmed their participation in the eventual military intervention and they have even decided the day on which they will deploy their regional force, although they will not reveal that date.

The meeting took place after the Heads of State of Government of the cedeao -bloc made up of fifteen countries- ordered on August 10 to “activate” the “reserve force” of the organization, although they also highlighted their commitment to dialogue to resolve the crisis in Niger.

The Accra chiefs of staff of Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, Benin, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambiawhile their counterparts from Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau they could not come.

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Neither Niger was represented, nor Burkina Faso, Mali or Guinea-Conakrycountries where there were also coups between 2020 and 2022 and which have expressed their rejection of the use of force.

Possible military actions have divided the region, where Nigeria, Benin, Ivory Coast and Senegal confirmed in recent weeks the availability of their armies to intervene in Nigerian territory.

by consMali and Burkina Fasoneighboring countries governed by military juntas, oppose the use of force and allege that any intervention in Niger it would amount to a declaration of war against them as well.

Chad, Guinea-Conakry, Algeria and Cape Verde have rejected military action and are calling for dialogue, a position they seem to share with the african union (AU), despite the fact that this pan-African organization has not yet taken a public position.

According to a diplomatic source who requested anonymity from EFE, the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the UA on Monday urged the cedeao to seek diplomatic solutions and decided to create a committee “ad hoc” at the level of heads of state in order to “persuade the leaders of the junta of Niger” so that “Commit to a peaceful resolution of the crisis.”

For now, the coup military junta has ignored the threats and, in addition to appointing a new prime minister, forming a transitional government and reinforcing its military device, has warned that the use of force will have a response “snapshot” and “energetic”.

the blow of State in Niger was headed on July 26 by the self-styled National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP), which announced the dismissal of the president Mohamed Bazoum and the suspension of the Constitution.

Niger It thus became the fourth country in West Africa to be led by a military junta.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.