Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar 111, Saturday, arrived Niamey, capital of Niger Republic, to broker truce between the military junta and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government.
Also part of the delegation is the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Omar Alieu Touray.
The visit is coming amidst warnings from different quarters that the Economic Community of West African States should refrain from activating its Standby Force to dislodge the military junta in the Republic of Niger.
The move by the Abubakar-led delegation is the second since the duo were mandated by the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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, overthrown Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum.
The delegation which arrived Niamey early in the afternoon, 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 Abdourahamane Tiani.