ECOWAS Delegation Fails Again to Meet Niger Coup Leader

The efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to resolve the political crisis in Niger have hit another snag, as a delegation from the regional bloc was unable to meet the leader of the military junta that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on 28 July.

The delegation, led by former Nigerian military head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.), was received by Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine, who was appointed by the coup leader, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani. The meeting lasted for about 90 minutes but did not result in any breakthrough or agreement.

This was the second time that the ECOWAS delegation failed to meet Gen. Tchiani or the deposed president, who remains in detention.

Earlier in August, the same team left Niger without achieving any progress in restoring constitutional order and democracy in the country.

The ECOWAS has condemned the coup and demanded the immediate release and reinstatement of President Bazoum, who was re-elected in February 2023.

The regional bloc has given the military junta a one-week ultimatum to comply and warned of possible sanctions and military intervention if it fails to do so.

The bloc has imposed sanctions on the junta, including a travel ban and asset freeze, and has threatened to impose further sanctions if the junta does not hand over power to civilians.

However, the coup leaders have shown no signs of backing down or opening dialogue with the ECOWAS or other stakeholders. They have suspended the constitution and installed Gen. Tchiani as the head of state, claiming that they acted to save the country from “the gradual and inevitable demise” caused by rising insecurity and economic stagnation.

The junta has said that it is committed to holding elections in 18 months, but ECOWAS has expressed doubts about the junta’s sincerity.

The failure of the ECOWAS delegation to meet with the junta leader is a setback for the bloc’s efforts to restore democracy in Niger.

The coup has been met with mixed reactions in Niger and beyond. Some people have celebrated the military takeover, waving Russian flags and chanting “Wagner”, a reference to a private military contractor that is allegedly supporting the junta. Others have denounced the coup as a setback for democracy and stability in Niger and the Sahel region, which is already plagued by Islamist insurgencies and climate change.

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