…As ECOWAS concludes modalities to deploy Standby Force
From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar 111, yesterday, arrived in Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic, to broker truce between the junta and the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Also in the delegation is the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Omar Alieu Touray.
The visit is coming amidst warnings from different quarters that ECOWAS should refrain from activating its Standby Force to dislodge the junta regime in the Republic of Niger.
The move by the Abubakar-led delegation is the second time since the duo were mandated by the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to visit Niger Republic for the resolution of the issue.
The delegation is to mediate in the crisis that engulfed the francophone country since July 26, 2023, when members of the Presidential Guard and the Armed Forces led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, overthrew Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum.
The delegation, which arrived in Niamey early in the afternoon yesterday, was received at the Diori Hamani International Airport, Niamey, by members of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) and the Prime Minister of the Transition Committee, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine.
Abubakar and his delegation were thereafter received by the President of the CNSP, Brigadier General Tchiani.
Sunday Sun could not ascertain the outcome of the visit as at the time of filing this report.
However, our correspondent gathered that the Abdulsalami-led delegation were on their way to meet with Bazoum after the interface with the junta.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS has concluded modalities for the deployment of its Standby Force to the Republic of Niger.
The conclusion followed a two-day extraordinary meeting held in Accra, Ghana.
The Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, ECOWAS Commission, Dr Abdel-Fatau Musa, while addressing journalists, said that the meeting provided an opportunity for the Defence Chiefs to fine-tune their mission objectives, discuss personnel, equipment and resources needed and the commitment of each member state to the mission.
Abdel-Fatau also said that the meeting concluded the planning phase of the mission as the Standby Force is ready for deployment as soon as the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS region gives an order for the intervention mission.