Nigeria’s president, as head of ECOWAS, does not rule out military intervention in Niger, but believes that diplomacy is the “best way forward” to resolve the situation, presidency spokesman says
ECOWAS is struggling with a cascade of coups that since 2020 have now hit four of its 15 members.
On Monday, Victoria Nuland, a veteran US envoy, met with the country's military rulers for more than two hours but came away empty-handed. She described her talks as"extremely frank and at times quite difficult". Niger's new leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, did not attend the meeting, and Nuland was unable to see Bazoum, who has been detained since July 26.The juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso have expressed solidarity with Niger, saying that any military intervention would be seen as a"declaration of war" against them.
Senators in Nigeria - the regional superpower and a major voice demanding tough action - have urged everyone to focus on the"political and diplomatic option." Bazoum, 63, was feted in 2021 after winning elections that ushered in Niger's first-ever peaceful transition of power.
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