A delegation from the junta in Niger was received in Conakry by the Guinean military authorities to whom it asked “reinforced support to face the challenges ahead”, Guinean public television reported Saturday evening, August 12, as the military regime in Niamey is under threat from West African intervention. The Guinean Head of State, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, whose regime also resulted from a coup in September 2021, met on Saturday in Conakry with this delegation led by General Moussa Salaou Barmou.
General Barmou said he came “thank the Guinean authorities for their support to the CNSP [Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie, qui a pris le pouvoir au Niger le 26 juillet] during these difficult times that Niger is going through”. “We were very worried [avec] the people of Niger following certain abuses in terms of security, abuses [également liées] to problems that revolve around endemic corruption. It was therefore important that, for the safeguard of our nation, we could take our responsibilities.he added, referring to the July 26 overthrow of Nigerian President-elect Mohamed Bazoum.
In a press release at the end of July, Conakry had “expressed his disagreement with the sanctions recommended [contre Niamey] by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including military intervention”. Conakry had “urges ECOWAS to reconsider its position”. Mali and Burkina Faso, also led by soldiers, have also shown their solidarity with Niamey.
The visit of the Nigerien delegation to Conakry comes two days after an ECOWAS summit in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, where the leaders said they favored a resolution of the crisis through diplomatic channels, while ordering the deployment of a “standby force” as a last resort to restore Mohamed Bazoum to his post. A meeting initially scheduled for Saturday in Ghana of the ECOWAS chiefs of staff, to inform their leaders of the “best options” to follow up on the decision to deploy their “standby force”, has been postponed indefinitely. At the same time, a mediation of Nigerian religious leaders met on Saturday in Niamey with members of the military regime.