Niger coup leaders willing to resolve standoff with ECOWAS

Coup leaders in Niger have said that they are willing to resolve a standoff with West Africas regional bloc through diplomacy Al Jazeera reported citing a group of senior Nigerian Islamic scholars who have held a meeting with army leaders in NiameyThe visit comes at a time when the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS is considering its options to restore civilian rule in Niger including potential military intervention ECOWAS decision comes after Niger President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted in a coup detat by the presidential guardECOWAS Chairman and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu gave approval to delegation of Islamic scholars visit to Niamey who had vowed to promote dialogue The meeting between Islamic scholars and Nigers military government leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani lasted several hours Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau who led the delegation said according to Al Jazeera reportSheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau said He said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter Reportedly General Abdourahamane Tchiani stressed on historic ties between Niger and Nigeria and said that the two nations were not only neighbours but brothers and sisters who should resolve issues amicablyMilitary leaders have issued no statement on the meeting The coup leaders previous rebuffs of diplomatic efforts by ECOWAS US and others had raised concerns over further conflict in the Sahel region of Africa Al Jazeera reportedFor now ECOWAS is pursuing efforts for further negotiations with Niger military leaders On Saturday ECOWAS parliament said it will ask Tinubu who holds the revolving chairmanship for allowing them to travel to Niger according to blocs spokespersonMeanwhile Mali Burkina Faso and Guinea have expressed support for Nigers new military authorities On Saturday General Abdourahamane Tchiani sent a delegation to Guineas capital Conakry to thank countrys leaders for their supportAt the meeting Guineas interim President Mamady Doumbouya said that they are PanAfrican and stressed that they will always support their people when they face problems according to Al Jazeera reportOn August 10 West African leaders ordered the immediate activation and the deployment of a regional standby force to restore constitutional order in the couphit Niger CNN reportedLeaders from the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS held a meeting in Nigerias Abuja after the expiration of the oneweek ultimatum they gave to Nigers military juntaECOWAS leaders called for a deployment to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger Omar Alieu Touray President of the ECOWAS Commission said in a statementThe statement stressed a determination to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis according to CNN After the coup ECOWAS announced sanctions and gave an ultimatum to Nigers ruling military junta to stand down within a week or face a potential military interventionThe deadline on August 6 expired without any change in the political situation ECOWAS leaders have said their preference is to find a diplomatic solution to the situation and would dispatch troops as a last resortThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever