The delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which arrived Saturday afternoon in Niamey in an attempt to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Niger, met President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained since the July 26 coup, according to a source in the regional organization.
The source said Bazoum is “in high spirits”. A journalist at the Nigerien News Agency confirmed that the meeting took place at the presidential palace.
On Friday, ECOWAS announced its readiness to intervene militarily with the aim of restoring constitutional order in Niger after the military coup.
The delegation was headed by former Nigerian President Abdessalam Abubakar, according to the liaison unit of the National Council for the Protection of the Fatherland, which took power in Niamey as a result of the July 26 coup.
Abu Bakr visited Niamey on August 3 at the head of a delegation from the Economic Community of West African States, but he did not meet the new strong man in Niger, General Abd al-Rahman Chiani, nor the ousted president.
A source close to ECOWAS confirmed that the delegation wanted to convey a “firm message” to the military in Niamey, and to meet President Bazoum, who is still being held.
And the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security in the organization, Abdel Fattah Moussa, announced on Friday that the goal of this mission is to “continue to follow the peaceful path to restore constitutional order” in Niger.
ECOWAS continues to prioritize diplomacy, despite announcing on Friday evening that it is “ready for military intervention” to restore constitutional order by force in Niger.
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2023-08-19 18:29:29
