Niger Coup: Abdulsalami Shares Fresh Update After Meeting With Tinubu

Niger Coup: Abdulsalami Shares Fresh Update After Meeting With Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu held a meeting on Tuesday with the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Omar Touray, and former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, at the Aso Villa.

The National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Nuhu Ribadu, was also present during the meeting, which was convened to discuss the coup that occurred in neighboring Niger Republic.

Abdulsalami, who led an ECOWAS delegation to Niger over the weekend for negotiations regarding the return of power to deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, briefed Tinubu as the ECOWAS chairperson on the outcomes of the discussions with the junta leaders.

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After the meeting with Tinubu, Abdulsalami expressed optimism that diplomatic efforts could lead to a resolution of the political situation in Niger Republic without resorting to military intervention.

Abdulsalami characterized the discussions held in Niger Republic as productive.

The coup leader, Abdourahamane Tiani, had declared that the junta would transition back to civilian rule within three years, but this move was rejected by ECOWAS.

Meanwhile, the African Union has suspended Niger Republic in response to the ongoing crisis.

The coup, which occurred on July 26, resulted in the ousting of President Bazoum, prompting ECOWAS to issue a threat of using force to reinstate him.

ECOWAS has indicated its readiness to deploy a “standby force” as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger, even as it continues to pursue diplomatic solutions.

This coup has raised international concerns about the security situation in the Sahel region, which has seen increasing jihadist insurgencies linked to groups like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Niger becomes the fourth West African nation since 2020 to experience a coup, following Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali.

The juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali have warned that any military intervention in their neighbor, Niger, would be seen as a “declaration of war” against their own countries.

This recent coup marks the fifth in Niger’s history since gaining independence from France in 1960.

Bazoum’s election in 2021 was a historic milestone, marking the country’s first peaceful transition of power.

Following the coup, he and his family have been held at the president’s official residence, raising international concerns about his well-being and detention conditions.