The leader of thedelegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Niger Republic, retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar has spoken after meeting the ousted Nigerien president Muhammed Bazoum.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Abdulsalami said, “We met him and heard his side of the story. He told us what was done to him and the challenges he is facing. We will communicate this to ECOWAS leaders. Doors for talks are now open for a lasting solution.”
The former Head of State did not provide details of the discussion with the ousted president.
However, some weeks ago, CNN quoted Bazoum in a series of text messages to a friend as saying he had been “deprived of all human contact” , with no one supplying him food or medicine.
They arrived Niamey Saturday in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to reach a peaceful solution with Niger junta.
The delegation met with Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine who received them at the airport and led them to the presidential palace.
The ECOWAS team also met with General Abdourahamane Tchiani, head of the junta, and his team for about 90 minutes and later Bazoum.
