The Economic Community of West African States have stated that the coup leaders in Niger have rejected the negotiation delegation mission.
Recall that, following the emergency meeting called by the Chairman Authority of Heads of States and Government, ECOWAS, Bola Tinubu, on Sunday August 6, the regional body agreed to send a tripartite delegate mission to negotiate with the military Junta in Niger.
However, in a press release signed and issued by ECOWAS on Tuesday, it stated that the joint delegation of ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations was rejected by the coup leaders in the country.
The release read, “ECOWAS Commission wishes to inform that the ECOWAS-AU-UN Mission to the Republic of Niger did not take place on Tuesday, 8 August 2023.
“The mission was aborted following a late-night communication from the military authorities in Niger indicating their unavailability to receive the tripartite delegation.
“The planned mission was part of the continued efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the current crisis in Niger,
“As per the decision of the ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit held on 30 July 2023, the Community will continue to deploy all measures in order to restore constitutional order in Niger.”
The presidential military guards had on July 26, overthrown the democratic rule in the country, thereby, ousting president Mohamed Bazoum and keeping him in custody.
Various African countries and international bodies have, however, criticized the plot and called for a restoration of Bazoum as president.
With the military of Burkina Faso and Mali joining the coup leaders in Niger, ECOWAS has also imposed sanctions on them for their role.
