Niger regime says cannot receive West African mission
Niger's coup leaders have told the West African bloc ECOWAS that they
cannot receive a proposed mission to Niamey for "security" reasons,
according to an official letter seen by AFP on Tuesday.
"The current context of public anger and revolt following the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS does not permit the welcoming of this delegation in the required conditions of serenity and security," the foreign ministry said in a letter to the ECOWAS representation in Niamey.
ECOWAS -- the Economic Community of West African States -- imposed trade and financial sanctions against Niger after rebel soldiers toppled the country's elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, on July 26.
The bloc also issued an ultimatum, which expired on Sunday, for reinstating Bazoum or else face the risk of use of force.
It had sought to send a delegation to the capital Niamey on Tuesday ahead of a crisis summit on Thursday in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
The coup leaders' letter, dated Monday, said: "The postponement of the announced mission to Niamey is necessary, as is the reworking of certain aspects of the (delegation's) schedule."
The schedule "includes meetings with certain personalities which cannot take place for obvious reasons of security given the atmosphere of the threat of aggression against Niger," it said.
