A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) arrived Thursday evening August 3 in Niamey. Dispatched by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, current chairman of the sub-regional organization, it notably includes the former President of Nigeria, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and a prominent traditional and religious leader, the Sultan of Sokoto in Nigeria, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III. Their objective: to achieve a return to constitutional order through dialogue.
2 mins
With our correspondent in the region, Serge Daniel
Before leaving Abuja in Nigeria for Niamey, the Nigerian capital, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s instructions to the ECOWAS delegation he dispatched were as follows: ” Until the last moment, we will follow the path of negotiations to restore constitutional order in Niger. »
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PRESIDENT TINUBU DISPATCHES ENVOY TO NIAMEY, URGES ROBUST DIALOGUE TO END IMPASSE
The Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has dispatched a delegation to Niger Republic with a mandate to… pic.twitter.com/3Weoy3pFg1
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) August 3, 2023
And as soon as they arrived, the envoys from the regional organization passed on the message to the first members of the Niger junta met. According to witnesses, the atmosphere was rather relaxed. In the room, someone even launched: We are here mainly between military brothers. It is true that the two main members of the delegation, the former Head of State of Nigeria, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, are former soldiers.
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This Friday, August 4, the discussions will continue. The program is loaded: a meeting is planned with the head of the junta, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, but also with the President Mohamed Bazoum, still not free of all his movements. The ECOWAS delegation must also meet resource people. She hopes to leave with good results to avoid a possible military intervention by ECOWAS.
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