Coup leaders in Niger are open to diplomacy to resolve a standoff with West Africa's regional bloc, a group of senior Nigerian Islamic scholars said on Sunday after meeting the junta in Niamey. The delegation of religious leaders from Nigeria met with the junta-appointed Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine on Saturday in Niamey amid ongoing efforts to overcome the crisis. Read our live blog to see how all the day's events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).
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7:40pm: Mediator talks with Niger coup leaders 'constructive'
Talks between the religious delegation of mediators and the Niger junta including leader General Abdourahamane Tiani have been "constructive", said FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris Trent.
Coup leaders in Niger have expressed willingness to resolve the current crisis and standoff with West Africa's regional bloc – ECOWAS – diplomatically, she said.
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3:19pm: Niger junta is open to diplomacy, say Nigerian scholars
Coup leaders in Niger are open to diplomacy to resolve a standoff with West Africa's regional bloc, a group of senior Nigerian Islamic scholars said on Sunday after meeting the junta in Niamey.
Their visit comes as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) explores its options to restore civilian rule in Niger, including potential military intervention, following the July 26 ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum – the seventh coup in West and Central Africa in three years.
In a sign the bloc is still pushing for a peaceful resolution, ECOWAS chairman and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu approved Saturday's mission to Niamey by the delegation of Islamic scholars, who had vowed to promote dialogue.
The group's meeting with junta leader General Abdourahamane Tiani lasted several hours, said Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, who led the delegation.
"He said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter," Lau said in a statement on Sunday.
10:01am: 'It's a first step': Nigerian religious delegation arrives in Niamey
A delegation of religious leaders from Nigeria met with the internationally unrecognised, but junta appointed, prime minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine in Niger's capital of Niamey on Saturday amid ongoing efforts to find a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
"The clerics are in Niamey to explain to the junta leaders that Nigeria is not fighting Niger and that the decisions taken on Niger are not Nigeria's but those of ECOWAS as a regional bloc," a source close to the delegation told AFP.
FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris-Trent said that the meeting had aimed to ease tensions following regional bloc ECOWAS' announcement that it would be mustering a "standby" military force to intervene in Niger as a last resort.
FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris-Trent reports:
Key developments from Saturday, August 12:
Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained since being ousted by members of his guard last month, was seen by his doctor Saturday, his entourage said, amid rising concerns for his health.
The president “had a visit by his doctor today”, a member of his entourage told AFP, adding the physician also brought food for Bazoum, his wife and son who are being held with him.
"He's fine, given the situation," the source added.
Read yesterday's live blog to see how the day's events unfolded.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
