Sharjah 24 – AFP: A delegation from West Africa's ECOWAS bloc arrived in Niger on Saturday seeking a peaceful rather than military solution after senior army officers seized power in a coup.
The delegation led by former Nigerian president Abdulsalami Abubakar flew into the capital early afternoon, a day after ECOWAS military chiefs announced they were ready to intervene to reinstate the ousted president.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has agreed to activate a "standby force" as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger after generals detained President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.
But it says it favours dialogue to defuse the crisis.
A previous ECOWAS delegation headed by Abubakar on August 3 tried and failed to meet Bazoum and the coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani.
A source close to Saturday's delegation said it would send "a message of firmness" to the army officers and meet Bazoum.
He has been held with his family at the president's official residence since the coup, with growing international concern over his conditions in detention.
ECOWAS chair and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Friday threatened Niamey with "grave consequences" if the new regime allows Bazoum's health to worsen, an EU official said.
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