In a seemingly last minute push for restoration of democratic order in Niger through diplomatic means, the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS has again sent a delegation to the West African country to talk with the coup plotters over its demands centering on the release and reinstatement of Mohammed Bazoum the country’s civilian president.
The delegation led by General Abdulsalam Abubakar ( Rtd) and former Nigerian Head of state also has the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar lll
They were said to have arrived in Niamey the Nigerien capital on Saturday afternoon and their visit and arrival had been confirmed by the Junta but reports reaching current matters indicate that the leader of the Junta, General Abdourahamane Tiani also this time around, failed to meet with the delegation the delegation but entrusted the prime minister ,Alli Lamine Zeine with the assignment to talk to the visitors
ECOWAS had desired peaceful means in sorting out the coup issue in Niger but the attitude of the coupists made it to consider military action on the country.
A meeting of ECOWAS Defence Chiefs in Accra to discuss the ” Standby Order” by the leadership which ended on Friday resolved to strike Niger on an unnamed date it referred to as D -day when ever the order is given to them to intervene.
“We are ready to go any time the order is given,” Abdel-Fatau Musah, an ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs and security, said on Friday.
All member states under ECOWAS except those under military rule and Cape Verde are joining the military action against Niger.
Also, the Junta were said to have evacuated members of their family and settled them in nearby Burkina Faso,Mali and Dubai.
ECOWAS is supported in his mission in Niger by the United Nations, and countries including United States , Germany and the Central African Block.
The African Union AU of which, ECOWAS is part of the 8 regional communities appears to be comfortable with coups as it vehemently kicked against the use of force on Niger .
