Niger Coup Leader Meets With Nigerian Clerics, gives reason for rejecting ECOWAS delegation

By Kasim Isa Muhammad

Kanempress

13th August 2023

The leader of the coup in Niger, Abdourahmane Tchiani, has offered justifications for his decision to decline a meeting with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) delegation led by former Nigerian military leader Abdulsalami Abubakar.

A statement signed by Islamic scholar Bala Lau, who led a team of Nigerian Islamic scholars to meet with Tchiani in Niamey, conveyed that the coup leaders were frustrated because ECOWAS did not listen to their concerns before issuing an ultimatum.

It added that Tchiani, however, apologized for this action and expressed readiness to explore diplomacy and peace to resolve the situation.

The statement, however, did not specify whether Tchiani apologized for also meeting with delegations from the AU, UN, and the US.

Tchiani claimed that the coup was well-intentioned, aimed at averting an imminent threat that would have impacted both Niger and Nigeria.

He emphasized that Niger and Nigeria are not just neighbours but also brothers and sisters who should resolve issues amicably.

During the meeting, the Nigerian team and the coup leader agreed to further explore dialogue as a means to resolve the political crisis in Niger.

Similarly, the Islamic scholars previously met with Nigeria’s President and ECOWAS chair, Bola Tinubu, to discuss the use of dialogue in resolving the conflict. They requested to intervene, a request the Nigerian leader agreed to.

Kanempress learned that the team included scholars from various Islamic organizations in Nigeria, including Kabiru Gombe, the secretary of Jamatul izalatul bida waikamatul sunnah; Yakubu Katsina, director of Daawah of JIBWIS; Dahiru Bauchi, represented by Ibrahim Bauchi, and Khalid Aliya, the secretary-general of Jammatul Nasril Islam.