We have finished talking to the Nigerian military! Voice of the delegation - Leader | Niger | Military
According to Reuters, Nigerian Islamic religious leaders who visited Niger stated on August 13th that they had held talks with Nigerian military leaders who were open to resolving their standoff with the Economic Community of West African States through diplomatic means.
In addition, the Russian Sputnik News Agency reported on August 13 that the Nigerian military leader and the chairman of the National Committee for the Defence of the Motherland, Abdulrahman Chiani, met with the delegation of Nigerian religious leaders.
According to reports, Ali Ramin Zene, spokesperson for the Niger military government, revealed on the 13th that Chiani stated during the meeting that the sanctions imposed on Niger need to be lifted.
Zene said that Chiani requested the visiting Nigerian religious leaders to state that the sanctions imposed on Niger are inhumane and unacceptable.
Zene also emphasized that the new government of Niger is open to mediation efforts aimed at normalizing the situation.
According to a previous report by Agence France Presse, a delegation of Nigerian religious leaders arrived in the capital of Niger, Niamey, on August 12th.
Sources say that this "mediation mission" has been approved by the President of Nigeria and the rotating chairman of the Western Community, Bola Tinub.
The source said, "Religious figures came to Niamey to explain to the military leaders that Nigeria will not fight Niger, and the decision regarding Niger is not Nigeria's idea, but made by the Western Community as a regional organization."
They will be charged with "treason"
According to Agence France Presse, the leaders of the Niger coup announced on the evening of August 13th on national television that they will prosecute the overthrown President Mohammad Bazum on charges of "treason" and "security breach".
According to reports, military officer Amadou Abdul Rahman, who participated in the military coup, said, "The Niger government has collected... evidence so far to prosecute the deposed president and his domestic and international accomplices for treason and the crime of undermining Niger's internal and external security to national and international authorities."
In another report, Agence France Presse reported that the leaders of the Niger coup also condemned the "illegal, inhumane, and insulting sanctions" imposed by the Economic Community of West African States in their statement on the evening of the 13th.
Abdul Rahman stated that the people of Niger have been severely hit by the illegal, inhumane, and insulting sanctions imposed by the Western Community, and stated that they are unable to access medicine, food, and electricity.
On the 12th, the Western Community Parliament decided to send a special committee to Niger to mediate. However, similar diplomatic mediation by the Western Community was rejected by the Niger coup soldiers.
However, it is not yet clear whether the Niger coup soldiers will accept the mediation of the committee. Previously, the Western Community, African Union, and United Nations intended to send a joint delegation to Niger, but were rejected by Nigerian coup soldiers on the grounds that the sanctions imposed by the Western Community had provoked public outrage in Niger, making it difficult to ensure the personal safety of the delegation.
On July 26th, some members of the Niger Presidential Guard detained Bazum. Late that night, representatives of the coup soldiers announced on Niger's national television the establishment of the National Committee for the Defense of the Motherland, lifting President Bazum's authority and allowing the military regime to take over national affairs. On July 30th, the Western Community held an emergency meeting and issued an ultimatum to the Niger coup soldiers, demanding the release of Bazum and the restoration of his authority within a week, otherwise all measures including military intervention will be taken. On August 6th, the day the ultimatum of the Western Community expired, the Niger coup soldiers announced the closure of their airspace and threatened to respond to all acts of aggression. On August 10th, Niger's coup soldiers announced the establishment of a new government.