Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Nigeria’s former central bank governor and former Emir of Kano, met Niger’s military coup leader in Niamey on Wednesday in an attempt to resolve the country’s leadership crisis.
The coup commander, Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, has met with this group for the first time after ignoring many envoys, including one from the West African regional bloc Ecowas.
Gen Tchiani has previously ignored Nigeria’s religious leader, Sa’ad Abubakar III, as well as US Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and multiple African Union and UN delegations.
Mr Sanusi stated on Wednesday that he had spoken with Gen Tchiani and will give a “message” to Ecowas chairman, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
“We came hoping that our arrival will pave the way for real discussions between the leaders of Niger and those of Nigeria,” Mr Sanusi added.
It comes as Ecowas heads of state prepare to meet in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, to discuss the next steps after Niger’s military junta violated a deadline to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
