ABUJA, Nigeria — The leader of the ECOWAS delegation, Retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has delivered his report, capturing the demands of the military junta, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
General Abubakar, echoing the sentiments of many in the region, voiced optimism for a diplomatic resolution and expressed aversion to military intervention.
“Hopefully, diplomacy will see the better of this. Nobody wants war, it benefits no one,” he said, speaking to journalists o Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
His visit followed an intense weekend of negotiations with the deposed President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, and junta leaders.
The deliberations aimed to address the military coup and forge a way forward.
The General elaborated on the success of the dialogues, “Our trip to Niger has been fruitful, paving the way for further discussions. We remain hopeful for a productive outcome.”
While the junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, proposed a three-year power transition plan, ECOWAS, through its Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musa, dismissed the plan, deeming it a mere distraction from genuine dialogue and diplomacy.
Abubakar’s diplomatic outreach is integral to ECOWAS’s efforts to restore democratic order in the Niger Republic.
Following the coup, the regional bloc initiated an ultimatum for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum, which the junta ignored.
The refusal prompted ECOWAS to activate its standby force, intensifying tensions and underscoring the need for immediate intervention.
ECOWAS’s commitment to a peaceful resolution was further solidified when General Abubakar spearheaded a delegation to Niger for talks, meeting both the ousted President Bazoum and the junta leader, General Tchiani.
President Tinubu, who currently chairs the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, will review General Abubakar’s findings in consultation with other regional leaders.
This latest round of deliberations underscores the regional bloc’s dedication to fostering stability in its member states.
As the crisis in the Niger Republic evolves, the international community will closely monitor the situation, hoping that diplomacy will triumph and restore peace to the nation.
