The ECOWAS envoy and Chad Transitional President, Mahamat Déby Itno, met with the deposed President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, in the capital city of Niamey on Monday.
This meeting marks the first time that the ousted president has been seen since the military detained him following the coup last week.
The regional leaders have given the junta a seven-day ultimatum to relinquish power voluntarily or face the risk of military intervention and President Déby is leading ECOWAS mediation efforts to finding a peaceful resolution to the situation in Niger.
During his visit to Niger, the ECOWAS envoy also held a meeting with the head of the junta, aiming to foster dialogue and explore avenues for a peaceful transfer of power and restoration of stability in the country.
Deby said he had met Bazoum and coup leader General Abdourahamane Tiani to explore ways “to find a peaceful solution,” without going into further detail.
ECOWAS mediation efforts are focused on upholding democratic principles and ensuring the well-being of Niger’s citizens amidst the current political upheaval.
The regional bloc said it would “take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order” if its demands were not met.
“Such measures may include the use of force,” and military chiefs were to meet “immediately” to plan for an intervention, a statement added.
Meanwhile, in an address on state television, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, one of the coup plotters, said the ousted government had authorised France to carry out strikes on the presidency through a statement signed by Bazoum’s foreign minister, Hassoumi Massoudou, acting as prime minister.
Abdramane alleged the planned strikes were aimed at freeing detained President Bazoum and reinstating his toppled government.
The junta also announced that it is suspending the export of uranium and gold to France with immediate effect. Niger is the world’s seventh largest producer of Uranium.
While the French Foreign Ministry has neither confirmed nor denied the accusation, it has emphasized that Paris recognizes only President Bazoum as the legitimate authority in Niger.
France added that its primary focus remained to safeguard its citizens and interests in the West African country.
Recent developments in Niger have drawn condemnation from various international entities, including the African Union, the United Nations, and France.
Germany has suspended financial and development aid to Niger after last week’s coup, but officials say evacuation of German citizens or soldiers is not currently considered necessary.
The coup has also prompted concern that Niger, a key Western ally in the fight against jihadist groups in West Africa, could pivot towards Russia, towing the same path as neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali Russia after staging their own coups in recent years.