Islam is the most practised religion in the Niger Republic. Photo: PBAT Centre/Twitter
President Bola Tinubu has approved the return of an Islamic leadership delegation to the Niger Republic for another round of dialogue with the coup leaders.
President Tinubu, who is also the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), gave the approval in a meeting with the Ulama.
The clerics, led by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, were recently in the Niger Republic for dialogue with coup leader General Abdourahamane Tiani.
ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the coup on July 26, 2023, and has not ruled out using force against the army officers.
The regional bloc also approved the deployment of a standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger but said it would continue to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
The junta had said it would transition to civil rule in three years.
Writing by Chinasa Ossai; Editing by Annabel Nwachukwu