ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The General Abdourahmane Tchiani-led military junta in the Republic of Niger is set to recall its ambassadors from Nigeria, Togo, the United States, and France following the breakdown of negotiations with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), regarding the restoration of democracy in Niger.
Defence sources have confirmed the decision to recall the ambassadors and also revealed the junta’s plan to evict French and US troops from Niger while terminating all Memorandum of Understanding agreements between France and Niger.
Defence sources privy to the ongoing meeting in Niamey, the Niger capital, confirmed the development to The Punch on Friday morning.
“The ongoing negotiation has failed. The junta has declared that it’ll recall Niger’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Togo, France, and the US,” an impeccable defence source said in a terse message sent to our correspondent Friday morning.
“The junta has just announced that it’ll evict French and US troops in Niger Republic, noting that all MoU agreements between France and Niger have ended,” another source privy to the development noted.
READ ALSO: ECOWAS Defence Chiefs Hold Crucial Meeting In Nigeria Amid Niger Coup Tensions
The political crisis in Niger began when General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the former Head of Presidential Guard, detained President Mohamed Bazoum in a palace coup on 26 July, 2023, subsequently declaring himself Head of State.
In an effort to resolve the crisis, ECOWAS dispatched two delegations abroad, with the first led by former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), engaging with the coupists and other parties in Niamey, Niger’s capital.
Another delegation, led by Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, held discussions with the leaders of Libya and Algeria concerning the situation in Niger.
President Bola Tinubu, Chairman of the ECOWAS’ Authority of Heads of State and Government, charged both teams with the mandate to expeditiously resolve the crisis in Niger for the sake of African peace and development, emphasizing the region’s commitment to democracy and peace, according to a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
“We don’t want to hold brief for anybody. Our concern is democracy and the peace of the region,” the President said.
General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) expressed optimism about the outcome of the mission, stating that the delegation would present the demands of the ECOWAS leadership to the coup leaders in Niger.
READ ALSO: Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea Back Niger Coup, Issue Stern Warning To ECOWAS
Former Head of State, General Abubakar, disclosed the task assigned to his team – to convey the subregion leaders’ displeasure with the developments in Niger to the coupists and urge them to return power to an elected President.
Ambassador Babagana Kingibe’s mission to Libya and Algeria aimed to foster solidarity and cooperation, seeking a diplomatic solution to avert possible military intervention and maintain peace with neighbouring countries.
The situation in Niger remains tense as the recall of ambassadors signals further complexities in the pursuit of restoring democracy in the country.
Speaking to journalists before departing the Villa for Niamey, former Head of State, General Abubakar, revealed the task his team was charged with, which he said was to express the displeasure of the leaders of the subregion with the developments in Niger to those who hijacked power in the country.
“We have just been given our marching orders to go to Niger and convey the feelings of our heads of state in the region that they are not happy with what happened. And they gave them an ultimatum that the coupists should desist from what they are doing and give back power to an elected President and again, to make sure that this message is sent loud and clear to them.
READ ALSO: US Urges ECOWAS To Defend Constitutional Order In Niger
“That’s what we are here for. So far, we are going there to convey this message to them and hear their response and report back what they have said,” Abubakar said.
On his part, Kingibe said talking with Libya and Algeria, two countries bordering Niger to the North, will stimulate the solidarity required for peaceful talks.
“Of course, this kind of situation requires solidarity. It requires coordination with all parties that are relevant to the situation.
“In that regard, Libya and Algeria are also very important neighbours of Niger. So, my mission is to go there with a message from President Tinubu. To brief them on the ECOWAS position and solicit solidarity and cooperation,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the talks will avert a possible military intervention saying: “We hope to find a diplomatic solution. Nobody wants to go to war, especially with neighbourly, brotherly people across the border with whom we share a common language, culture and religion.”