Niger coup leaders say they are willing to negotiate
The head of Niger's military junta, who has been in control of the country for more than two weeks, says he is "open" to resolving the crisis through diplomatic means, according to a delegation of Nigerian clerics who have travelled to Niamey to meet with the new military leadership, Digi24.ro reports.
General Abdourahamane Tchiani "said that his door is open to exploring the path of diplomacy and peace in order to resolve the crisis," Sheikh Bala Lau, leader of the Izala, an Islamic movement inspired by Salafism, who led the mediation mission, said in a statement.
The mission was carried out with the agreement of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who met with these religious leaders at the beginning of the week.
According to the source cited, during the meeting, General Tchiani "apologised for not giving the necessary attention to the team sent by President Tinubu and led by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar."
On 3 August, an ECOWAS delegation led by General Abubakar landed in Niamey, but left after just a few hours without being able to meet with the new leader of the country, General Tchiani. On Tuesday, another delegation, made up of envoys from ECOWAS, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations, was unable to travel to Niamey, the regime citing security reasons.
According to the communication of the mediation mission, Tchiani said that it is "painful" for the perpetrators of the coup that the ECOWAS leaders "did not listen to their version of the facts before giving them an ultimatum."
On 30 July, four days after the coup, ECOWAS leaders decided to impose financial sanctions on Niger and gave the army a seven-day ultimatum to restore constitutional order, threatening with a possible use of force as a last resort.
On Thursday, during a new summit, ECOWAS leaders reaffirmed that they favour the diplomatic route to restore President Mohamed Bazoum to power, while at the same time ordering the mobilisation and deployment of the ECOWAS "standby force".
According to General Tchiani, quoted in the religious mediation communiqué, the military overthrew President Bazoum "due to an imminent threat that would have affected not only the Republic of Niger, but also Nigeria".
Two days after the coup, Tchiani had justified the army's action by the "deterioration of security" in this country undermined by the violence of jihadist groups.
According to the communiqué, the religious mediation mission is to meet with President Bola Tinubu to report on the content of the discussions in Niamey.
