Niger : Mediation Talks Postponed

Niger's Prime Minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine has announced the postponement of a mediation meeting with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), from January 10 to 25, 2024 in order to conduct a National Dialogue, state media reported. On January 3, 2024 the Prime Minister launched the National Dialogue to determine the duration of the transition period in Niger and the issues that need to be resolved before organizing possible elections. After the national consultations, the Nigerian authorities plan to meet with the ECOWAS delegation and, possibly, inform them of the decisions taken, a senior official explained on the state media.
On December 10, 2023, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS set up a committee of three leaders to negotiate with Niger's military junta on a transition to democratic rule and to consider easing sanctions. During a meeting in Nigerian capital Abuja, leaders from Togo, Sierra Leone and Benin were mandated to engage the Niger transitional government to agree “on a short transition roadmap” and work “towards the speedy restoration of constitutional order”. The regional body added that if the Niger Transitional Government does not comply with the outcome of the engagement, the sanctions would be maintained, including the possible use of force. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who is ECOWAS chairman, earlier said the bloc should try to re-engage with reg...