A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) arrived in Niger Republic on Thursday to meet with the leaders of the military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum from office. The delegation, led by former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has been tasked with presenting the demands of the ECOWAS leadership to the coup leaders.
President Bola Tinubu, who is also the Chairman of ECOWAS, directed the delegates to take all necessary measures to ensure a conclusive and amicable resolution of the situation in Niger. During a meeting on Sunday, ECOWAS leaders had given the military regime a one-week ultimatum to reinstate the elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, or face military intervention from member countries of the sub-regional bloc.
In addition to the delegation led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, President Tinubu dispatched a second delegation led by Babagana Kingibe to engage with the leaders of Libya and Algeria on the crisis in Niger Republic and seek their support as neighboring countries surrounding Niger.
ECOWAS has already imposed trade and financial sanctions on Niger, and Nigeria has cut off electricity supply to the country as measures to exert pressure on the coup leaders.
However, other neighboring countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, have issued a warning that any military action taken in Niger would be regarded as a declaration of war. The situation remains tense as ECOWAS continues its efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.