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, which was led by Bala Lau, the national leader of Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, and included Islamic experts.
In a statement that Lau personally signed on Sunday, the cleric is quoted as saying that he advised 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.\”
Tchiani responded by saying, \”Their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.\”
Tchiani voiced regret 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.
We have reached an understanding, and the leader of our nation has given the go-ahead for conversation,\’\’ Zeine said. They will now return and let the President of Nigeria know what they learned from us. We anticipate that they (ECOWAS) will visit us in the near future to talk about how the sanctions put in place against us would 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 afterwards, 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 would only send soldiers in a last-ditch effort to resolve the problem diplomatically.
