Nigeria’s former Military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), took charge of an ECOWAS delegation for a crucial diplomatic mission aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution with the Niger Junta. The delegation’s primary objective was to meet with General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the leader of the coup in Niger Republic. However, upon arrival, it was Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine who welcomed and hosted the delegation.
Despite the change in plans, the meeting between the delegation and the representative of the troubled West African country lasted approximately 90 minutes, as reported by BBC Hausa. The reasons for the delegation’s failure to meet with the junta remain unclear, but there have been rumors of a mutiny among the presidential guard in Niger Republic.
A prior attempt by another ECOWAS delegation, also headed by Abubakar, had also failed to meet with both Bazoum and the coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani. However, General Tichiani expressed his apologies when he met with Nigerian clerics over the past weekend, clarifying that the failure to meet the delegation was not due to anger or resentment.
Below are the photos from the meeting with Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine:
R-L: Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine and Abdulsalami Abubakar
