Junta leader in Niger Republic, General Abdourahmane Tchiani has agreed to dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Tchiani stated this on Saturday during a meeting with Nigeria’s intervention team comprising Islamic scholars. Parley
The Islamic clerics led by the national chairman of Jam’atul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, Bala Lau, met with Tchiani for several hours in Niger’s capital, Niamey.
According to a statement issued by Lau on Sunday (yesterday), the coup leader and Islamic scholars deliberated on several issues including the demand by ECOWAS leaders that the democratically elected President Bazoum be reinstated.
Lau said the clerics were in Niger on behalf of President Bola Tinubu who accepted their request to intervene.
He told Tchiani that the visit was meant to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage him and other military leaders behind the coup to toe the path of peace instead of war, in order to resolve the crisis.
Lau said the team had earlier told President Tinubu who is also the chairman of authority of ECOWAS heads of state and government that their position is that the political impasse in Niger be resolved through dialogue.
Responding, Tchiani who accorded the team warm reception, welcomed their intervention.
He said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.
However, Tchiani said it was painful to the coup leaders that the ECOWAS leaders did not hear their side of the matter before issuing ultimatum to them to quit office.
He claimed the coup was well intended, stating that they struck to starve off an imminent threat that would have affected not only Niger Republic but also Nigeria.
He also apologised for not according the team sent by Tinubu led by Nigeria’s former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) the required attention because they were angry about the ECOWAS ultimatum.
Earlier in an interview, Niger’s prime minister appointed by the junta, Ali Zeine, told reporters in Niamey that Tchiani had given the green light for talks with ECOWAS.
“Yes, for sure. That was exactly what the leader of our country told them, he did not say he was not open to dialogue.
“‘’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,’’ he said.
TRT Afrika quoted the prime minister as describing the ECOWAS sanctions, which have started to cause hardship, as “injustice” adding that they were contrary to the rules of the bloc. He however, said lifting the sanctions was not a precondition for talks.
*With TheCable reports
*Niger coup leaders with Nigeria’s intervention team
