
The military junta led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani in the Republic of Niger is set to recall the Nigerien Ambassador to Nigeria following a failed negotiation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) delegation regarding the restoration of democracy in Niger.
In addition to the recall from Nigeria, the junta plans to summon back Nigerien Ambassadors from Togo, the United States, and France. This move comes as the junta seeks to expel French and US troops from Niger while also declaring the termination of all Memorandum of Understanding between France and the Republic of Niger.
Sources within the defense establishment, who are privy to the ongoing meeting in Niamey, the capital of Niger, have confirmed this development on Friday morning. The situation underscores the growing tensions and disputes surrounding the return to democratic governance in Niger and the involvement of foreign military forces in the country.
“The ongoing negotiation has failed. The junta has declared that it’ll recall Niger’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Togo, France, and the US,” an impeccable defense source said in a terse message sent to our correspondent Friday morning.
“The junta has just announced that it’ll evict French and US troops in Niger Republic, noting that all MoU agreements between France and Niger have ended,” another source privy to the development noted.
The military junta in Niger led by Tchiani, the former Head of Presidential Guard to the hoisted President, Mohamed Bazoum, detained Bazoum in a palace coup on July 26, 2023, while Tchiani later declared himself Head of State.
In an attempt to resolve the political crisis in the Niger Republic, the ECOWAS on Thursday dispatched two missions abroad, with the mandate to achieve a resolution to ending the crisis.
While the first delegation led by former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), led the engagement with the coupists and other parties in the Nigerien impasse in the country’s capital, Niamey; another delegation, led by Ambassador Babagana Kingibe led the engagement with the leaders of Libya and Algeria concerning the Niger crisis.