Niger Military Junta Defends President Bazoum's Removal, Commits to Talks with Nigerian Intervention
The military coup that ousted Niger Republic President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, 2023, has defended the nation’s new political system.
The junta’s leader, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, claimed the military action was necessary because there was an immediate threat to both Niger and Nigeria that needed to be avoided in a speech last weekend in Niamey, the capital of Niger.
According to Thisday Live, Lau, the National Chairman of Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, cited Gen. Tchiani as outlining the reasons for the coup in a statement he released on Sunday.
He stated that Tchiani, who gave the delegation a warm welcome, claimed the coup was well-intentioned and that it was carried out to avert an impending threat that would have affected both Nigeria and the Niger Republic.
Lau said that the junta appreciated the Nigerian team’s assistance and stated that they were open to exploring peace and diplomacy as possible resolutions.
Tchiani, however, claimed that the coup leaders were hurt that the ECOWAS leaders weren’t aware of their side of the story before giving them an ultimatum to resign.
He also expressed regret for not giving President Tinubu’s team, which was commanded by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), the proper attention while they were upset over the ECOWAS ultimatum.
Tchiani outlined the historical connections between the two countries and asserted that Nigeria and the Niger Republic were not only close neighbors but also brothers and sisters who ought to settle disputes peacefully.
Sheik Lau said previously that the team had communicated its opinion that the political deadlock in Niger should be settled through discussion with President Tinubu.
As a result, he informed Tchiani that his trip to Niger was intended to engage in productive discussion to persuade him and the other military figures who participated in the coup to choose peace over war as a means of resolving the problem.
After meeting with the coup leaders in Niger, the Nigerian Intervention Team, which is made up of well-known Islamic academics from the nation, decided to increase the possibility of discussion to resolve the political issue in the nation.
The Islamic Ulammas discussed all the concerns, including the demand by ECOWAS leaders that former President Bazoum be brought back, during their lengthy meeting with Tchiani in the capital city of Niger, Niamey.
After the meeting, he told reporters in Niamey: “We will now return home and explain to President Tinubu what we talked about and press him to agree that war is not a ble option for addressing the issue.
“We think that reconciliation should rule and that war is a bad wind that will blow no good.”
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