Niger’s coup leader met Guinea’s military leader: Seeks help

August 14, 2023

(3 minutes read)

As a shot in the arm, the military junta in Niger got support from another junta ruled country-Guinea. This support was extended to a delegation from Niger’s junta, which visited Guinee recently

As a shot in the arm, the military junta in Niger got support from another junta ruled country-Guinea. This support was extended to a delegation from Niger’s junta, which visited Guinee recently. The delegation was received in the capital city -Conakry – by Guinean military authorities. The visiting delegation asked for reinforced support to face the challenges ahead.

The Guinean head of state, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, led a coup d’état in September 2021. The meeting between him and the delegation led by General Moussa Salaou Barmou of Niger was cordial. While thanking the Guinean authorities for their support for the CNSP (Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la Patrie,) during difficult times, General Barmou explained the circumstances in which the military was forced to take over the reins of power.

It may be recalled that at the end of July, Conakry had expressed its disagreement with the sanctions recommended against Niamey by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), including military intervention, and asked the West African regional bloc to reconsider its position. Mali and Burkina Faso also expressed their solidarity with Niamey. The visit by the Niger delegation came two days after an Ecowas summit in Abuja, where leaders said they favored a diplomatic resolution to the crisis while ordering the deployment of a standby force as a last resort to restore Mohamed Bazoum to office.

A meeting initially scheduled for Saturday in Ghana of Ecowas chiefs of staff, to inform their leaders of the best options for following up their decision to deploy their standby force, has been postponed indefinitely. Meanwhile, a mediation group of Nigerian religious leaders met with members of the military regime in Niamey. Guinea’s junta leader, Colonel Doumbouya, who made himself president after overthrowing Alpha Condé, has pledged to hand over power to elected civilians within two years from January 2023.