President Bola Tinubu Approves Delegation for Continued Dialogue with Niger Republic Coup Leaders.
Abuja – In his capacity as the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Bola Tinubu has authorized the return of a delegation of Islamic leaders, known as Ulama, to Niger Republic for a further round of dialogue with the coup leaders.
This decision comes after a recent meeting between Tinubu and top clerics, led by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, who had engaged in talks with the junta led by General Abdourahamane Tiani in Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic, two weeks ago.
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Following the coup that removed President Mohamed Bazoum from power on July 26, 2023, ECOWAS had imposed sanctions on Niger in response and had not ruled out the possibility of using force against the coup leaders.
The West African bloc also approved the deployment of a standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger, while emphasizing a commitment to finding a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
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Abdulsalami Abubakar, ECOWAS envoy to Niger Republic and former Nigerian Head of State, stated upon his return from the coup-torn country that the delegation’s previous meeting with the coup leaders had been productive.
He expressed confidence in diplomatic efforts to reinstate the democratically elected government of deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.
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The junta, led by General Tiani, had announced its intention to return the nation to civilian rule within three years, a move that ECOWAS rejected. The African Union had also suspended Niger Republic due to the ongoing political situation.
This coup adds to international concerns about the security situation in the Sahel region, which is facing escalating jihadist insurgencies linked to groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Niger Republic is the fourth West African nation to experience a coup since 2020, following Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali.
It’s worth noting that the juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali have warned that any military intervention in their neighboring country, Niger, would be considered a “declaration of war” against their own nations.
This marks the fifth coup in Niger’s history since gaining independence from France in 1960. President Bazoum’s election in 2021 had marked a significant milestone, representing the country’s first peaceful transition of power.
Concerns have also grown about the detention conditions of Bazoum and his family at the presidential residence following the coup, prompting international attention on their well-being.
Editor’s Summary,
President Bola Tinubu has once again dispatched a delegation of Islamic leaders to engage in dialogue with individuals associated with the coup that occurred in Niger Republic.
