A delegation from Niger’s junta was visited in Conakry by Guinean military officials, who called for “reinforced support to face the challenges ahead” at a time when the Niamey military rule is facing West African intervention, according to Guinean public media.
Guinean President Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, whose rule also emerged from a coup in September 2021, met with a team led by General Moussa Salaou Barmou in Conakry on Saturday, according to Guinean television.
General Barmou said he had come “to thank the Guinean authorities for their support for the CNSP (Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie, which took power in Niger) during these difficult times Niger is going through”.
In a statement 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”.
Conakry also “urged Ecowas to reconsider its position”. Mali and Burkina Faso, also military-led, also expressed their solidarity with Niamey.
Saturday’s visit by the Niger delegation comes 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 on Saturday.
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.