The Daily Trust reports that the military junta in the Niger Republic has cut ties with Nigeria. The action followed the failure of diplomatic efforts by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) to resolve the crisis in that country.
ECOWAS initially issued a 7-day ultimatum to the junta to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum or face a possible military intervention.
However, the subregional body decided to adopt the diplomatic approach to resolve the crises after its leaders met in Abuja with its current Chairman, Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, earlier this week. It dispatched a high-powered delegation to Niamey, the country’s capital, on Thursday for peace talks with the coup leaders.
But the delegation led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) reportedly met only with representatives of the junta.
The country has now announced that it has severed ties with Nigeria, Togo, France, and the United States.
According to the report, Radio France International quoted one of the coup leaders to have said on national television:“The functions of the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassadors of the Republic of Niger to France, Nigeria, Togo, and the United States are terminated.”
The junta overthrew the democratically elected government of ousted President Bazoum on July 26 by members of the Presidential Guard. The commander of the Guard, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, declared himself the head of government two days later.
Ifyafrica (
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