As reported by THE PUNCH, the military junta in the Republic of Niger, led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, is considering recalling the Nigerien Ambassador to Nigeria after failing to reach an agreement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) delegation regarding the restoration of democracy in the country.
The junta is also contemplating recalling Nigerien Ambassadors to Togo, the United States, and France as part of their efforts to expel French and US troops from the country. They have further declared the termination of all Memorandum of Understanding between France and the Republic of Niger.
Defence sources familiar with the ongoing meeting in Niamey, the capital of Niger, have confirmed this development.
“The ongoing negotiation has failed. The junta has declared that it’ll recall Niger’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Togo, France, and the US,” an impeccable defence source said in a terse message.
“The junta has just announced that it’ll evict French and US troops in Niger Republic, noting that all MoU agreements between France and Niger has ended,” another source privy to the development noted.
General Abdourahmane Tchiani, who previously served as the Head of Presidential Guard to the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, orchestrated a palace coup on July 26, 2023, resulting in the detention of Bazoum and Tchiani declaring himself as the Head of State.
To address the political crisis in Niger, ECOWAS dispatched two missions with the objective of finding a resolution. One delegation, led by former Nigerian Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), engaged with the Junta leaders and other parties involved in Niamey. Simultaneously, another delegation, headed by Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, engaged with the leaders of Libya and Algeria concerning the Niger crisis.
President Bola Tinubu, Chairman of the ECOWAS’ Authority of Heads of State and Government, tasked both teams to engage all stakeholders extensively in their pursuit of a conclusive and peaceful resolution to the situation in Niger, emphasizing the importance of African peace and development above adopting foreign geopolitical positions.
The mission to Niger Republic was in line with the resolution reached at the end of the extraordinary ECOWAS summit held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last weekend. The delegation includes the former Nigerian Head of State, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray.
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