After weeks of resisting diplomatic overtures from the United Nations, African Union, Economic Community of West African States and the United States, the junta in Niger Republic has finally agreed to talks with the ECOWAS to resolve the political crisis in the Sahel country.
The positive signal from the military leaders followed a meeting with a group of Nigerian Islamic clerics in Niamey on Saturday.
The Ulammas led by Sheik Bala Lau met with the coup leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, for several hours where they deliberated on all the issues including the demand by ECOWAS leaders that former President Mohamed Bazoum be reinstated.
The newly appointed Prime Minister, Ali Zeine, confirmed that the junta was ready for a dialogue, expressing hope that the talks with ECOWAS would take place in the next few days.
Zeine noted “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.”
The junta had defiantly refused to yield to entreaties and diplomatic pressure to reinstate Bazoum who has been in detention at his residence since the takeover on July 26.
Following the coup, the ECOWAS imposed several sanctions on the francophone country, including cutting off electricity supply to Niger, to compel the military leaders to reinstate the ousted president
