Niger coup: Uncertainty as ECOWAS leaders meet again on Niger crisis
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - Uncertainty hangs in the air as leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) prepare to meet in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, on Thursday on the Niger crisis.
This is as the military junta did not only snub the order of ECOWAS leaders to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum by 23:00 GMT on Sunday, but also refused to receive a tripartite delegation of ECOWAS, the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis generated by the 26 July coup.
The military junta said it could not receive the diplomatic delegation because of a risk to the visitors' security following sanctions imposed by ECOWAS after their 30 July meeting.
The junta also said the threat of military action by ECOWAS had "created public anger so the delegation could not be hosted with calm and in security".
ECOWAS in its version of what happened, said in a statement dated 8 August that the mission "was aborted following a late night communication from the military authorities indicating their unavailability to receive the tripartite delegation".
It said the planned mission was part of the continued effort to find a peaceful resolution to the current crisis in Niger.
It stressed: "As per the decision of the ECOWAS extraordinary summit held on 30 July 2023, the community will continue to deploy all measures in order to restore constitutional order in Niger."
A delegation sent by ECOWAS to Niger last weekend did not meet the head of the ruling National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), General Abdourahmane Tchiani, who sent a team to meet the ECOWAS team at the Airport.
Also a senior US diplomat, Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, who travelled to Niamey last Monday did not meet either General Tchiani or ousted President Bazoum.
Ms. Nuland said she had two hours of an "extremely frank and at times quite difficult" meeting with a delegation of the junta.
All these are happening as the junta strengthens its hold on power by making important appointments to rule the country.
It has named Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, former finance minister, as the new prime minister while Lieutenant-Colonel Habibou Assoumane is the new commander of the presidential guard to replace General Tchiani.
The UN Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, has warned that 4.3 million people in Niger require humanitarian assistance.
He also warned that the unfolding crisis could worsen insecurity in the wider West African region.
Meanwhile, reports say ousted President Bazoum and his family are running out of food and are staying in difficult conditions.
Last Sunday, thousands of people again rallied in Niamey in a show of support for the military who announced the closure of the country's airspace due to "the threat of intervention".
"Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighbouring countries, Niger's airspace is closed from this day on Sunday ... for all aircraft until further notice," CNSP said in a statement.
It warned that any attempt to "violate" the country's airspace would meet with an "energetic and immediate response".
Demonstrators have been asking for the expulsion of French troops in Niger.
Niger has been a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militants in West Africa. France, the former colonial power, and the US, both have military bases in the uranium-rich country.
France moved some of its soldiers to Niger when Mali expelled them last year.
The US has two military bases in Niger with some 1,100 soldiers, while France has some 1,500 soldiers in the country, according to reports.
-0- PANA MA/RA 9Aug2023
