Junta has blocked attempts so far
ECOWAS states want to negotiate with putschists in Niger
08/13/2023, 4:00 p.m
Shortly after the military coup in Niger, the economic community ECOWAS rattled its sabers. In the meantime, the mood has cooled, negotiations are to take place and mediators to Niger. But the state doesn’t want that. Meanwhile, he turns to an ally for help.
In the conflict between the new military junta in Niger and neighboring countries, the parliament of the West African community of states ECOWAS wants to send its own mediation team to the putschists. The MPs of the economic bloc decided this at an extraordinary virtual meeting, as reported by the Nigerian state foreign broadcaster Voice of Nigeria.
At a special summit on Thursday, the ECOWAS heads of state ordered the activation of a military stand-by force to restore constitutional order after the coup d’état in Niger. At the same time, diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution should continue to have priority. Niger’s new rulers have so far refused to receive official ECOWAS delegations. A group of Islamic clerics traveled to Niger on Saturday.
Instead, Niger, in turn, sent a delegation to Guinea to ask for support there. According to Guinean television, the Nigerien delegation, led by General Moussa Salaou Barmou, met with the Guinean Head of State, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, in Conakry. Barmou said he came to thank the Guinean authorities for their support of the now-ruling National Council for the Protection of the Fatherland (CNSP) “during these difficult times that Niger is going through”.
Guineau calls for end of sanctions
In late July, Guinea, where the military seized power in September 2021, had expressed its “rejection of sanctions advocated by the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS)” against Niger, including military intervention. Conakry had also called on ECOWAS to “reconsider its position.” Mali and Burkina Faso, which are also ruled by the military, also showed solidarity with Niger.
Niger, a country with around 26 million inhabitants and one of the poorest populations in the world, was one of the last democratic partners of the USA and European states in the Sahel region on the southern edge of the Sahara before the coup. France and the US have important military bases in the country, which is also on a key migration route to Europe. On July 26, the military ousted the president and suspended the constitution. The putschists have since appointed their own interim government.
The ECOWAS Parliament delegation is said to include MPs from most of the eleven active ECOWAS member states – four states, including Niger, are suspended after military coups. According to the report, during a discussion in parliament, most MPs spoke out against a possible military intervention in Niger. Others called for the bloc to defend itself against military coups.