Nigerian religious leaders’ mediation arrives in Niamey
Muslim religious leaders from Nigeria have arrived in Niamey to meet with officials from the military junta with the approval of the Nigerian president.
Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held in his presidential residence in Niamey since a coup overthrew him on July 26, also “received a visit from his doctor,” according to a close associate speaking to AFP. Follow the latest developments on the situation in Niger here.
A delegation from the Niger junta was received in Conakry by Guinean military authorities, to whom they requested “further support to face the challenges ahead,” while the military regime in Niamey is under the threat of a West African intervention, as reported by Guinean public television.
Guinean President Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, whose regime also came to power through a coup in September 2021, met on Saturday in Conakry with this delegation led by General Moussa Salaou Barmou.
General Barmou stated that he came “to thank the Guinean authorities for their support to the CNSP [National Council for the Salvation of the People, which took power in Niger] during these difficult times in Niger.”
Kathleen FitzGibbon, currently the number 2 in the U.S. diplomacy in Abuja, was proposed by Joe Biden last spring. As required by U.S. legislation, she was confirmed by the Senate on July 27, the day after the coup, recalls our correspondent in Washington, Matthieu Mabin. This is precisely what fuels speculations.
While the U.S. is committed to its military base in Niger, it is not to the extent of reneging on the founding principles of American democracy by offering any form of public credit to the coup plotters,” he insists.
If the new ambassador were to take office next week – the information has not been confirmed – she would do so without a letter of credence. “She will not address the new strongmen of Niamey for anything other than demanding the return of the democratically elected President [Mohamed Bazoum],” concludes Matthieu Mabin, adding that on this point, Paris and Washington are on the same page.
Nigerian Muslim religious leaders have arrived in Niamey to meet with officials from the military regime with the approval of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, according to sources close to the Nigerien regime and the delegation.
This delegation of religious leaders is led by Sheikh Bala Lau, the leader of Izala, a Salafist-inspired Islamic movement in Nigeria. A source close to the delegation confirmed to AFP this “mediation mission” conducted with President Tinubu’s approval, who is also the current President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Its objective is “to ease tensions created by the prospect of a military intervention by ECOWAS,” according to this source.
Essentials of the day on August 12
A key meeting of ECOWAS regarding the deployment of a force to restore President Mohamed Bazoum has been postponed indefinitely.
This meeting, originally scheduled for August 12 in Accra, has been delayed for “technical reasons,” according to regional military sources.
President of Niger Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held in his presidential residence in Niamey since a coup overthrew him on July 26, “received a visit from his doctor,” according to one of his close associates speaking to AFP, as concerns about his fate multiply.
Reuters
