Junta That Took Over Niger Democracy Welcomes Former Emir of Kano

Despite refusals from the junta in Niger to meet with any foreign delegate concerning restoring democracy, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, the 14th Emir of Kano met with the coup leaders in Niger on Wednesday.

The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was able to meet with the military leadership even after the junta had canceled all scheduled meetings it had with members from the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and a top US ambassador. 

ECOWAS has pushed the delegation's efforts to reconcile with the military authorities yet it didn’t yield anything beneficial as it resulted in a deadlock. 

On Wednesday, footage from Daily Trust emerged showing Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, a noted Nigerian economist, and leader of the Tijjaniya sect, in negotiations with Junta officials. He was joined by the Sultan of Damagaran. 

According to reliable sources, Sanusi's visit was intended to kick up discussions with the junta. This meeting took place immediately before the next ECOWAS leaders' conference in Abuja. 

Following the expiration of a 7-day ultimatum set by the regional group for the restoration of President Mohamed Bazoum, ECOWAS Chairman President Bola Tinubu convened a meeting on Thursday. 

ECOWAS had imposed sanctions on Niger and hinted at the possibility of military intervention, a stance that faced strong opposition, particularly from Nigeria. 

More Insight Into the Story of the Coup That Happens in Niger

Internal politics sparked the coup, but it quickly escalated into an international crisis. The ECOWAS, UN, and Western nations have urged the junta to step down, while Mali and Burkina Faso have promised to support it.

On Wednesday, former rebel Rhissa Ag Boula declared the formation of a new Council of Resistance for the Republic (CRR) aimed at restoring Bazoum.

"Niger is the victim of a tragedy orchestrated by people charged with protecting it," Ag Boula said in a statement. He stated that the CRR will use "any means necessary" to prevent the military takeover and that it supported international diplomacy.

The threat from Ag Boula increases the prospect of internal turmoil in Niger, which was a vital ally for the West before the coup in a region where other nations have moved to Russia.

Western nations are concerned that if the junta in Niger follows Mali's lead and expels Western soldiers in favour of soldiers from Russia's Wagner Group, Russian influence will rise.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Ag Boula was a key figure in uprisings by Tuaregs, a nomadic ethnic minority in Niger's desert north. He, like many other former insurgents, was absorbed into the government by Bazoum and his predecessor, Mahamadou Issoufou.

Border and airspace barriers imposed by the coup have cut off supplies and delayed relief. Foreign financial restrictions have also been imposed on one of the world's poorest countries as a result of the takeover.

David Lewis, David Gauthier-Villars, Edward McAllister, Elizabeth Pineau, and Humeyra Pamuk contributed reporting, as did Nellie Peyton, Estelle Shirbon, and Sofia Christensen. Cynthia Osterman and Stephen Coates edited the piece.