The leader of the military junta in Niger Republic, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, is said to have indicated interest in dialoguing with the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
This is coming 19 days after the junta overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, as Tchiani’s regime had earlier refused several peaceful overtures and entreaties from the regional bloc especially after a raft of sanctions and a threat of military intervention by the West African leaders to restore democratic order if the coup leaders failed to reinstate the ousted president.
But speaking during a meeting with Islamic scholars from Nigeria, Tichani was quoted to have said that doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.
Islamic scholars led by Bala Lau, chairman of Jam’atul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, reportedly met with the junta in Niger’s capital on Saturday.
In a statement Lau issued after the meeting, he said his delegation and the coup leader deliberated on several issues including ECOWAS demand for the reinstatement of Bazoum.
Asked if the discussion for dialogue took place, Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, said: “Yes, for sure. That was exactly what the leader of our country told them; he did not say he was not open to dialogue.”
He also expressed optimism that talks with ECOWAS would take place in the next few days.
‘’We have agreed, and the leader of our country has given the green light, for dialogue. They will now go back and inform the Nigerian President what they have heard from us. We hope in the coming days, they (ECOWAS) will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted,” he said.
At the time of filing this report, the Communications Division of ECOWAS Commission in Abuja was yet to confirm the report as calls and messages sent to them were yet to be responded to.
Meanwhile, members of the ECOWAS Parliament on Saturday set up a committee that will lead a delegation to Niger for mediation. Speaker of the Parliament Sidie Mohamed Tunis, who announced members of the committee in a virtual extraordinary meeting, said the delegation will be led by First Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase of Nigeria.
The Parliamentarians aligned themselves with the Heads of States of ECOWAS on the steps taken to restore democratic order in the beleaguered country but urged caution over the proposed use of force.
At LEADERSHIP Twitter Spaces, Kperogi, Banda, Modibbo, Others Call for Caution
Africans have called on ECOWAS to tread with caution concerning the political crisis in Niger Republic following the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum.
But while the ECOWAS leaders have activated its standby force, Africans who spoke at the Weekly LEADERSHIP Newspaper Twitter Spaces said the crisis in Niger is more of a proxy war that shouldn’t be allowed to escalate.
A columnist, public commentator and professor of communication who specialises in journalism and emerging media at Kennesaw State University’s School of Communication and Media, USA, Prof Farooq Kperogi, said military invasion by ECOWAS is not a better option.
“I do not think the military options are the best to solve the problem in Niger. The issues in Niger Republic are very complex. There are several issues that led to the ouster of the former President Bozoum.
“Also, there is the reason that made the junta take over power. But I think civil rule is the best but military action will bring consequences. Internal issues in Niger should be allowed to be addressed by the Niger people themselves,” Kperogi said, adding that destabilising Niger is akin to destabilising Nigeria.
“Military actions make no sense. These groups, France, Russia and others in the west, are pushing for their interest and not that of Africa. It is like raping a virgin to maintain their virginity.
“Niger and North West and the North East of Nigeria, linguistically, are indistinguishable. There will be refugees there. If there is a war, we will be launching a project of self-sabotage.
“Most of these refugees may be brothers and it will spark war. Yoruba and Igbo are living in Niger. The same people who are from Nigeria are calling on the government not to declare war because it may cause an ethnic crisis.
“It will be a huge strategic and tactical error to declare war. The war will benefit France and the United States. It’s not going to be in the interest of Nigeria and Niger,” Kperogi said, even as he stated that the French-speaking countries in West Africa are still under colonialism.
Also, a former minority leader of the Kaduna State House of Assembly and now dean, Faculty of Health Sciences of the National Open University of Nigeria, Professor Shehu Usman Modibbo corroborated that the two countries are inseparable and that any crisis in Niger will affect Nigeria.
According to him, the old Sokoto caliphate and the old Kanem Borno empire all moved into Niger Republic.
“These communities are together despite the border. Some of them are in Nigeria, their farms are in Niger. The same thing with the other people in Niger, their farms are in Nigeria. This is how close the two places are. Inter-marriages between Nigeria and Niger have been taking place and these people are inseparable.
“We have a military government in Niger and any attempt at military invasion, they will declare war and come out to fight the ECOWAS soldiers. Burkina Faso, and Mali will be supporting the military junta. That will cause more crises to our region,” he said, while advising ECOWAS to pressurise the military to organise elections.
“Because the closure of the border is already biting hard, ECOWAS should ask the military to release the ousted president. We have a militant group coming up to fight the junta. Where are they getting the support? Basically, from other countries outside the continent. So, ECOWAS should move in with their military to help the military just to hold an election and not for a war,” Modibbo said.
According to him, if there is war, it will affect the Northern part of Nigeria.
The entire crisis, he said, is turning into a polar and more of a proxy war.
“France has always been a long burden to these French-speaking countries because their mineral resources are controlled by France, including their currency.
“Let the military junta release all political detainees, including the ousted president, and he should be allowed to contest the election. If he wins, fine.
“ECOWAS should still move to Niger but with the aim of stabilisation,” Bodibbo said, adding that France has been a parasite bent on killing its host, making Niger people to look to Russia.
“The ECOWAS should tread carefully, they should do what will be in the best interest of Niger because if there is a crisis in Niger, there will be a mass influx of people and weapons into Nigeria.
“If the ECOWAS did not succeed in its mission, Nigeria will suffer for it. So, we have to treat it with caution. We must not go against the interest of Nigeria and other countries that are tired of France,” he said.
On his part, the executive chair, Regional Centre for Governance and Security Policy Initiative (RCGSPI), and chair of the African Union ECONOMIC, Social and Cultural Organisation (AU ECOSOCC) Peace and Security Committee/Cluster, Jonathan Sandy, said ECOWAS is working to ensure that Niger does not become a threat to the continent and the region.
“Niger is important because of the nature of the threat – migration pattern, non-state actors carrying arms and the interest from other continents. We have to set up the standby force because Dr Good luck Jonathan has been going to Mali without results.”
He went on: “I’ve been in Niger. I manage the electoral basket for UNDP. We have to get away from identity politics. Bazoum comes from the minority group. He was working against corruption, working to fix public service. We were fighting state actors that have been enjoying such,” Jonathan said, adding that the ECOWAS should move into Niger and restore democracy.
Also, social commentator, activist and chair, Centre For Liberty Nigeria, Deji Adeyanju said the military junta in Niger had no legitimacy.
Adeyanju, who is convener, Concerned Nigerians, told the military junta to reinstate the president or call for a referendum for the people to decide the kind of governance they want.
“I want to take a different approach because there is no legitimacy the junta in Niger can have. I support ECOWAS to topple them because evil people will always have justification for what they do.
“African leaders are one of the most backward leaders and they even collaborate with their colonial masters to oppress the people.
“For me, the coup does not reflect the yearnings of the people. It is the will of Russia. Dictators are still in charge. We are Africans, allowing people to come and rule us by proxy. We must begin to call out African leaders who are bringing these colonial leaders to come and help them.
“Will it be morally right for us to remove a democratically elected government and bring in the military? This is the situation going on from country to country. There is no way something like that will be going on in Niger and ECOWAS should not be bothered. Should we keep quiet when France is busy suppressing these countries? We must speak out but the military junta has no legitimacy,” Adeyanju added.
To an award-winning journalist from Cameroon, Amy Banda, there is no need invading Niger over the political crisis.
“It is not helpful. There was no need to invade Niger. There is no point invading the country because we’ve seen what happened in Libya.
“Libya was invaded. How is Libya today? How far with Afghanistan, Somalia and others. If we continue to allow foreigners to determine our future, we will not move forward,” Banda said.
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