By Alexander Adi
An aircraft that was meant to take a delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Niamey, Niger Republic on Thursday January 25, developed “technical problems” in Abuja, forcing the team to spend the day at Abuja airport.
The Economic Community of West African States has imposed tough sanctions on Niger since a coup in July ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, but the regional bloc is trying to negotiate a transition back to civilian rule.
In a statement issued on January 26 said, “As part of the negotiation mission entrusted to the Presidential Task Force by the Conference of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, in agreement with the Nigerien authorities, a ministerial mission was to stay in Niamey on January 25, 2024. The Community delegation spent all day on Thursday at Abuja airport, ready to travel to Niamey.”
The statement said, “Unfortunately, due to technical problems with the plane that the Commission had chartered, the special flight to take the delegation from Abuja to Niamey could not be carried out.” ECOWAS said it would reschedule the mission as soon as possible.
Since the coup, ECOWAS has insisted Mr. Bazoum must be released from detention if sanctions are to be rolled back and that the military rulers agree to a short transition back to civilian rule.
