Niger Coup: ECOWAS leans towards dialogue, military deployment unlikely

• Many Nigerians, including parliament, traditional leaders, and religious figures, oppose the use of force and advocate for dialogue instead.
• The Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), a significant influence, calls for the sanctions on Niger to be reversed
  

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The current assembly of ECOWAS heads of state is poised to propose an increased emphasis on engaging in dialogue with the leaders of the coup in Niger.

This development arises from a request made by Bola Tinubu, the ECOWAS chair and President of Nigeria, during discussions with his fellow leaders from West Africa. Tinubu suggested that the regional coalition should opt for a more dialogue-oriented approach with the coup leaders, favoring it over deploying military actions.

Acknowledging that certain initiatives undertaken by ECOWAS to establish a dialogue with the coup leaders have yielded limited success, President Tinubu advocated for a reevaluation of these approaches.

“In reaffirming our relentless commitment to democracy, human rights, and the well-being of the people of Niger, it is crucial that we prioritize diplomatic negotiations and dialogue as the bedrock of our approach,” Mr Tinubu told his fellow West African leaders.

“We must engage all parties involved, including the coup leaders, in earnest discussions to convince them to relinquish power and reinstate President Bazoum. It is our duty to exhaust all avenues of engagement to ensure a swift return to constitutional governance in Niger.

“It is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of our interventions and identify any gaps or challenges that may have hindered progress. Only through this comprehensive assessment can we collectively chart a sustainable path towards lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in Niger,” he said.

The leader of the junta in Niger has declined meetings with delegations from ECOWAS, AU, UN, and the US following the imposition of sanctions by the regional bloc. These sanctions entail both air and land blockades along with asset freezes.

While he has rejected engagements with regional leaders, General Abdourahamane Tchiani did hold discussions with Nigerian Lamido Sanusi, an associate of Mr. Tinubu. Subsequently, Sanusi briefed the Nigerian leader regarding the meeting.

In addition, the coup leaders disregarded an ECOWAS ultimatum demanding the restoration of power to ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, who remains in detention. ECOWAS had conveyed a threat of employing force if its demands went unheeded by the coup leaders.

Contrarily, a significant portion of Nigerians, including the parliament, traditional leaders, and religious figures, have expressed opposition to the use of force in Niger and have advocated for an increased emphasis on dialogue.