We’re Ready For Dialogue – Niger Junta, Tchiani Abdourahmane

It appears peace is in sight as the leader of the Niger junta, Tchiani Abdourahmane says the military is now ready for dialogue.

Recall that Tchiani’s gang overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, and his regime has since shunned several peaceful overtures.

However, Tchaini, according to some Islamic scholars from Nigeria, who met with him on Saturday, their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.

The Islamic scholars led by Sheik Bala Lau, Chairman of Jam’atul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, met with the junta in Niger’s capital on Saturday.

Sheik Lau, in a statement issued after the meeting, said his delegation and the coup leader deliberated on several issues including ECOWAS’s demand for the reinstatement of Bazoum.

On whether the discussion for dialogue took place, Lau quoted Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, the Prime Minister of Niger, who was appointed by the junta as saying, “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.

Sheik Lau said the team had earlier told President Bola Tinubu who is also the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government that their position is that the political impasse in Niger be resolved through dialogue.

He said based on this, he told General Tchiani that the visit to Niger was to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage him and other military leaders behind the coup to toe the path of peace instead of war to resolve the crisis.

The Sheik said in his response, General Tchiani said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.

Meanwhile, Kanyi Daily reported that the Defence Headquarters has frowned at some requests for the country’s armed forces to interfere in the democratic process of the country.