Niger Junta reconsiders, will engage in dialogue with ECOWAS
The military junta in Niger Republic has reportedly agreed to engage in dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after a team of Islamic scholars from Nigeria, sent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, met with junta leaders in Niamey.
These scholars managed to convince the junta to reconsider its position and be open to negotiations with ECOWAS.
ECOWAS had previously imposed sanctions on Niger following the coup and had issued a warning about potential military action if the junta didn’t reverse its actions.
Despite initially rejecting an earlier offer of dialogue from ECOWAS, the junta seems to have been influenced by the intervention of the Nigerian scholars.
READ ALSO: ECOWAS meeting on Niger crisis put on hold
Sheikh Bala Lau, the leader of the Nigerian scholars, stated that the junta leaders were “pained” by ECOWAS not hearing their side of the story prior to imposing sanctions.
He mentioned that the junta is now ready to engage in talks with ECOWAS and work toward resolving the crisis.
Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, the Prime Minister of Niger, confirmed that the junta had given the green light for discussions with ECOWAS.
He expressed hope that these talks would occur in the next few days and lead to the lifting of sanctions.
“We have reached an agreement, and our country’s leader has approved the dialogue. The Nigerian President will now be informed of our stance. We anticipate that ECOWAS will visit us in the coming days to discuss the process of lifting the imposed sanctions,” he stated.
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