A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) today arrived in Niger for talks with the military officers who seized power and ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
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The ECOWAS delegation is headed by former Nigerian leader Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Niger’s governing military council has also confirmed the arrival of ECOWAS representatives.
A plane carrying the delegation landed in Niger’s capital, Niamey, Saturday, a day after the ECOWAS military chiefs said they were ready to intervene to reinstate Bazoum.
ECOWAS defence chiefs met within the week in Accra, Ghanaian capital, to fine-tune details of a potential military operation to restore Bazoum if ongoing negotiations with coup leaders fail.
ECOWAS had agreed to activate a “standby force” as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger after generals toppled and detained Bazoum.
However, the West African bloc says it favours dialogue to defuse the crisis.