Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musa, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (CPAPS) within the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), has revealed that the military junta in Niger, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, has expressed willingness to engage in discussions with the regional bloc.
Dr. Musa informed that a delegation has been dispatched to Niamey to hold talks with the coup leaders, aiming to find a potential resolution to the ongoing political turmoil.
“Finally, they tell us they are receiving the mission today and we have taken up their offer, so there will be a mission into the country today, that is for sure,” Dr Musa said on The Keypoints on TV3/3FMon Saturday, August 19.
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This development follows two previously unsuccessful Ecowas missions to the crisis-stricken country. The first mission, led by former Nigerian head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’adu Abubakar, reportedly faced restrictions at the Niamey airport and subsequently returned to Nigeria.
“We will see how discussions unfold,” he indicated.
“The thing is that if we realise that discussions are going nowhere, I can assure you that we are not going to engage in endless dialogue [or] the dialogue of the deaf,” he pointed out, adding: “If we cannot make it, the very last option will be the military one”.
The second mission, comprising representatives from not only Ecowas but also the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN), was informed by the junta that they would not be received.
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Dr. Musa acknowledged the positive shift in welcoming an international meeting on Saturday, but he emphasized that Ecowas remains committed to its efforts to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum and restore constitutional order.
He refuted claims that Ecowas was inclined toward military intervention without considering alternative approaches, notably dialogue.
Dr. Musa attributed the present situation to the actions of the CNSP (Council for National Salvation and Democracy), the junta governing Niger.
“We are not the one shutting the door on them. It is rather they shutting the door on us,” he said about the junta.
