The junta in the Niger Republic has finally agreed to negotiations with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address the political situation in the Sahel nation after weeks of rejecting diplomatic overtures from the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, and the United States.
The military leaders sent a positive signal after meeting with a delegation of Nigerian Islamic clerics in Niamey on Saturday.
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They discussed all the concerns, including the call by ECOWAS leaders for the reinstatement of former President Mohamed Bazoum, during a lengthy meeting between the Ulammas led by Sheikh Bala Lau and the coup leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani.
The newly appointed Prime Minister, Ali Zeine, confirmed that the junta was ready for a dialogue, expressing hope that the talks with ECOWAS would take place in the next few days.
Zeine noted, “We have agreed and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue. They will now go back and inform the Nigerian President what they have heard from us. We hope in the coming days, they (ECOWAS) will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted.”
The junta had defiantly refused to yield to entreaties and diplomatic pressure to reinstate Bazoum who has been in detention at his residence since the takeover on July 26.
Following the coup, the ECOWAS imposed several sanctions on the francophone country, including cutting off electricity supply to Niger, to compel the military leaders to reinstate the ousted president.
