A delegation from West Africa's main regional bloc ECOWAS met ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum on Saturday and held talks with the junta leader, General Abdourahmane Tiani in the capital, Niamey, a spokesman for The President of Nigeria said.
The West African group is pursuing a diplomatic path to reversing the July 26 coup. The coup leaders' acceptance of the mission could signal a renewed willingness to negotiate after the bloc on Friday rose double on the threat of using force as a last resort to restore democracy. He said an undisclosed "D-Day" had been agreed for a possible military intervention.
While previous ECOWAS missions have been pushed back, Saturday's delegation was picked up by the prime minister appointed by the military junta at Niamey airport, an ECOWAS source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The source said the group that arrived by air was led by former Nigerian army chief Abdulsalami Abubakar and included ECOWAS committee chairman Omar Touray.
Nigerian Presidential spokesman Abdulaziz Abdulaziz posted a photo of the delegation meeting Bazoum.
"After meeting (...) (leader of the administration) General Abdoulrahmane Tchiani, the ECOWAS delegation to Niger also visited President Mohamed Bazoum this evening," he wrote on the X messaging platform, formerly known as Twitter.
He did not give details about the outcome of the negotiations. There was no immediate comment on negotiations by the junta, which has held Bazoum since coming to power despite international calls for his release.
But in a nationally televised address on Saturday night, Tiani said that neither the putschists nor "Nigerian people want war and are still open to dialogue."
He warned that Niger was ready to defend itself if necessary. "If an attack were made against us, it wouldn't be the walk in the park that some people believe," he said.
Meanwhile, Tiani said the junta is pursuing its own agenda and will launch a national dialogue to agree on the transition to democracy, which "does not should last more than three years".
THOUSANDS of VOLUNTEERS SUPPORTING THE WOMEN GOVERNMENT
ECOWAS has taken a tougher stance on the coup in Niger, the seventh in the wider region in three years, than previous coups. The block's credibility is at stake as it has stated that it will no longer tolerate such reversals. Niger is also strategically important to regional and global powers due to its uranium and oil reserves as well as its role as a hub for foreign militaries engaged in the fight against linked insurgents. with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Highlighting interests at stake, the US State Department on Saturday said it had sent a new ambassador to Niger whose "diplomatic objective would be to support a diplomatic solution that protects the constitutional order". ".
The administration's oath to resist outside pressure to resign was welcomed by many in Niger.
Thousands of his supporters gathered at a stadium in Niamey on Saturday, where crowds led to the postponement of an informal civil investigation into civilian volunteers for non-military roles. if ECOWAS uses force.
