Niger’s army rulers have urged a delegation from a West African bloc to return for talks, Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou informed French broadcaster TV5 Monde Monday 7 August 2023, after an abortive first try.
“The junta have requested the ECOWAS delegation to return,” and its members “can be in Niamey in all probability right now (Monday) or tomorrow”, Mahamadou mentioned in an interview.
ALSO READ: Niger’s army defies ultimatum as requires diplomacy develop
Did the bloc meet Bazoum as scheduled?
An ECOWAS delegation arrived within the capital Niamey final Thursday however didn’t keep in a single day as scheduled. It didn’t meet both the toppled elected President Mohamed Bazoum or coup chief Abdourahamane Tiani.
A deadline the bloc set for Sunday evening threatening army intervention until Bazoum was restored to his publish then expired with no response. Earlier Monday, ECOWAS agreed to carry a summit assembly subsequent week to debate methods to proceed.
ALSO READ: Niger closes airspace as a result of perceived menace of intervention
The ECOWAS bloc “leaders can be contemplating and discussing the political state of affairs and up to date developments in Niger through the summit”, the 15-nation bloc mentioned in its first official response following the deadline expiry.
“We aren’t disillusioned… as a result of our goal just isn’t army intervention. Our goal is the restoration of democracy and the tip of the sequestration of President Bazoum,” mentioned Mahamadou.
ALSO READ: Niger army coup supporters collect in Niamey stadium
Niger’s army insists on negotiation with ECOWAS
Mahamadou revealed in his interview that Bazoum — held since July 26 together with his spouse and son — was enduring deteriorating situations. “They’ve minimize off their electrical energy, their water,” he mentioned.
“Negotiation continues to be potential,” he added. Mahamadou mentioned he was not shocked to see obvious demonstrations of fashionable help for the coup over the weekend.
ALSO READ: Niger junta warns of swift response to aggression
“To fill a stadium as they did, you simply have to offer the means — to vow a little bit monetary help to those that take part,” he mentioned in reference to the 30,000-strong crowd which gathered Sunday to point out help for the army leaders at a Niamey stadium.
bu/bam/mba/cw/gw© Agence France-Presse
