ECOWAS delegation holds consultation with coup leaders in Niger

A delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had on Thursday arrived Niger Republic to meet leaders of the military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum from office.
National Daily gathered that the delegation led by former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has the mandate to “meet the coup leaders in Niger to present the demands of the ECOWAS leadership.

The media office of President Bola Tinubu, ECOWAS Chairman, had disclosed that the Nigerian President had directed the delegates to do “whatever it takes to ensure a conclusive and amicable resolution of the situation in Niger.”

ECOWAS leaders had at a meeting on Sunday ordered the military regime to within one week to reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum or face military invasion from members of the sub-regional bloc.

President Tinubu was said to have dispatched a second delegation led by Babagana Kingibe “to engage with the leaders of Libya and Algeria” on the crisis in Niger Republic, and solicit their support as neighbouring countries around Niger.

ECOWAS has already imposed trade and financial sanctions on Niger, while Nigeria has cut electricity supply to the country.

Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, etc. had warned that any military action in Niger would be taken as a “declaration of war”.