APA – Ndjamena (Niger) – This is the first mediation mission for Chad’s transitional president, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, since his coming to power in April 2021.
Invited as an observer to the extraordinary summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the political crisis in Niger, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has been appointed emissary of the current chair of the regional institution.
This is the first time he has been called upon to play such a role since coming to power in April 2021.
His appointment is explained by his status as current Chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), to which Niger belongs, and by the history that links these two neighbours.
In his capacity as LCBC chairman, Mahamat immediately flew to Niamey, despite the closure of
Niger’s airspace and met parties to the coup crisis to find a peaceful solution.
Mandated by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the ECOWAS envoy carried a message containing the demands of West African leaders to the new authorities in Niamey.
These demands include a return to constitutional order within seven days, and the immediate release of
President Bazoum and his family.
According to the Presidential Communications Office, the Chadian leader met the leader of the coup plotters, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum and former President
Mahamadou Issoufou.
Their discussions focused on ways out of the crisis without falling into the heartbreak and violence that will
undoubtedly impact Chad.
For the Chadian leader, the need to find common ground that will prioritize the interests of Niger is the only way to avoid unnecessary suffering for the people of Niger, according to the Presidency’s Communications Department.
Considered a success, this first mission enabled the ECOWAS envoy to listen, explain Chad’s vision and affirm his willingness to continue the consultations.
Now that contact has been established and opinions collected, the Chadian head of state will certainly continue to work to help Niger emerge from one of its serious institutional crises, the Chadian Presidency assumes.
However, in the eyes of Chadian political analysts, convincing the putschists to return Bazoum to power is an impossible mission.
According to them, the profile of the young Chadian leader poses a problem: he himself is accused by the Chadian opposition of having come to power through a coup.
According to several sources, the coupists have asked for him to be appointed as mediator, whereas
initially it was the President of Benin, Patrice Talon, who was due to visit Niamey.
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