Anastasia Reporting
Niger Republic coup leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani has agreed to dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after his meeting with Nigerian Islamic scholars led by the national leader of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau in Niger Republic.
This was disclosed by the Prime Minister appointed by the junta, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, when speaking to reporters in Niamey.
According to him, General Tchiani gave the green light for talks with ECOWAS and was optimistic the talks with ECOWAS would take place in the next few days, Nation report.
“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.
This is the first time the coup leaders have signalled an open door for talks with the regional body.
An attempt last week to send a joint team of ECOWAS, UN and African Union representatives to Niamey for talks was rejected by the coup leaders.