Niger: as ECOWAS force on ‘standby’ for intervention, coup leaders open to talks, say mediators

Talks between a delegation of senior Nigerian Islamic scholars and the Niger’s coup leaders in Niamey have been “constructive” and the latter are open to diplomacy to resolve a standoff with West Africa’s regional bloc, ECOWAS, the Nigerian religious leaders said on Sunday (13 August).

In a sign the ECOWAS bloc is still pushing for a peaceful resolution, its chairman and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu approved Saturday’s (12 August) mission to Niamey, which had vowed to promote dialogue. Niger’s putschists had for the first time showed willingness to negotiate with ECOWAS, according to Nigerian mediators who met junta leader General Abdourahmane Tchiani. Their visit came as the ECOWAS explores its options to restore civilian rule in Niger, including potential military intervention, following the 16 July ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum – the seventh coup in West and Central Africa in three years. ECOWAS has ordered the deployment of a standby military force in response to July’s military coup in Niger.

Any military intervention by the bloc could further strain regional ties as juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea have voiced support for Niger’s new military rulers. Until the coup, Niger was hailed as one of the last democratic partners of the United States and European nations in the Sahel region. The country has now become a hot ground for US, French, German and Italian troops stationed in Niger, as the putschists have already terminated military agreements with France. There are mounting concerns Russia’s clout could increase in Niger if the junta in the West African country follows Mali and Burkina Faso, which ejected the troops of former colonial power France after coups in those countries.