Niger Junta

By Muhammadu Sabiu
 
General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the head of the Niger Junta, has consented to look into diplomatic dialogue to break the country’s political deadlock.
 
Tchiani addressed the Nigerian intervention team comprising Nigerian Islamic scholars, which was led by Bala Lau, the national leader of Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah.
 
In a statement signed by Lau on Sunday, he told Tchiani that “the visit to Niger was to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage him and other military leaders behind the coup to embrace dialogue instead of war to resolve the crisis.”
 
Responding, Tchiani said, “Their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.”
 
Tchiani voiced concern about the Economic Community of West African States’ ultimatums being given without the junta’s point of view being heard.
 
According to the Prime Minister of the Niger Republic, Ali Zeine, it was learned that Tchiani was prepared for a conversation and expressed the hope that the discussions with ECOWAS would happen soon.
 
Zeine noted, ‘’We have agreed and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue. They will now go back and inform the Nigerian President what they have heard from us. We hope in the coming days, they (ECOWAS) will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted.”
 
West African leaders ratcheted up their criticism of the coup leaders in Niger on Thursday, ordering the deployment of a regional standby army to reestablish democracy there.
 
Since late last month, when the presidential guard overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup d’état, the Niger Republic has been mired in political upheaval.
 
Days later, ECOWAS responded by imposing sanctions and giving the military junta in power one week to disband or risk military intervention.
 
On Sunday, August 6, that deadline passed without causing the political climate to change. The leaders of ECOWAS have stated that they will only send soldiers in a last-ditch effort to resolve the problem diplomatically.