A West African delegation arrived on Saturday afternoon August 19 in Niamey, the capital of Niger, to try to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis in the country. She was able to meet the overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum, held prisoner since the July 26 coup, said a source within ECOWAS. He “has morale”, assured the latter, specifying that the ousted president “still does not” have electricity. The meeting was confirmed by a journalist from the Nigerian news agency, present at the presidential palace at the time of the delegation’s visit.
This delegation, led by former Nigerian President Abdulsalami Abubakar, was welcomed at Niamey airport by the Prime Minister appointed by the military who came to power, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine. She also met with some military officials who took power on July 26, detailed the ECOWAS source, without specifying whether the West African emissaries had exchanged with Niger’s new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tiani.
Abdulsalami Abubakar had already visited Niamey on behalf of ECOWAS on August 3, but had seen neither General Tiani nor the overthrown president. This diplomatic mediation comes the day after an announcement by the West African organization which said it was ready to use force to restore constitutional order in Niger.
The transition “cannot go beyond three years”
In the evening, Saturday, General Abdourahamane Tiani, at the head of the putschists, spoke during a televised address. “Our ambition is not to confiscate power”, he declared, specifying that the duration of the transition “cannot go beyond three years”. He also took the opportunity to warn foreign countries against military intervention targeting his country. “If an attack were to be undertaken against us, it will not be the walk in the park that some believe,” he warned.
In this speech of a dozen minutes, General Tiani announced the launch of a “national dialogue” which has thirty days to formulate “concrete proposals” with a view to laying “the foundations of a new constitutional life”. . Finally, he denounced the “illegal” and “inhuman” sanctions of the West African organization. Since July 30, Niger has been under heavy financial and trade sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, which wants the return of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
The new ambassador of the United States installed in Niamey
The new American ambassador, who has just arrived in Niamey, is already hard at work supporting diplomatic efforts to resolve the political crisis affecting Niger, the State Department said in a statement on Saturday. Kathleen FitzGibbon will not, however, officially present her mission letter to the new authorities in place, said Washington, which does not recognize them.
This arrival, explains the press release, “does not reflect a change in policy” of the United States but “responds to the need to have (on site) experienced personnel in these complicated times”. His roadmap will be “to advocate for a diplomatic solution that preserves the constitutional order in Niger and for the immediate release of President (Mohamed) Bazoum, his family and all those who are illegally detained”, according to the same source.
Like other Western countries and those of the West African bloc, the United States is closely monitoring the situation in Niger. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has several times exchanged with President Bazoum, an ally of Westerners, and regional officials. According to the statement, Washington “remains committed to working with African partners, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to promote security, stability, democracy and the rule of law in the Sahel. “.