A delegation from the ECOWAS regional grouping of West African nations left the Republic of Niger without having a chance to speak with the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum or the head of the junta that overthrew the government.
The team led by former Nigerian military ruler Abdulsalami Abubakar was reportedly unable to spend the night in Niger as planned on Friday, according to a delegation member.
The ECOWAS group arrived in the capital Niamey on Thursday but “did not spend the night” as planned, a team member claimed. They also did not meet with the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, or coup leader Abdourahamane Tiani.
According to the Nigerian Presidency, the group was initially scheduled to visit Tiani to present ECOWAS’s demands, according to Alarabiya .
The putschists were given a week on Sunday to restore Bazoum to office. Regional superpower Nigeria currently holds the rotating presidency of ECOWAS, which imposed sanctions.
However, ECOWAS stated it could turn to military involvement as a last resort, despite the fact that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu declared the group would try to settle the conflict constructively.
The Niger junta issued a warning that it would use force against the putschists in a statement that was read on national television late on Thursday.
The Niger Defence and Security Forces will respond immediately and unexpectedly to any attack or attempted aggression against the State of Niger, according to the statement.
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