Niger Declines Meeting Request from UN, AU, and ECOWAS Delegation

BREAKING NEWS:Niger Declines Meeting Request from The Republic of Niger’s authorities have rejected an invitation for a meeting with a joint delegation comprising representatives from the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Niger stated that the three organizations had collectively communicated their intention to visit Niger on Tuesday for discussions.The government of Niger cited the ECOWAS sanction which mandates member states to close their borders with Niger as a determining factor in their decision.

They pointed out that the planned special flight for the delegation, chartered by the United Nations, required exceptional considerations from Niger’s authorities, including a special exemption. This exemption was not explicitly mentioned in the communication from the Resident Representation.

The memo explained that while the Nigerien government remains open to engaging in conversations with emissaries or delegations concerning the country’s situation, the ongoing atmosphere of public discontent and unrest due to the ECOWAS sanctions makes it inappropriate to host the delegation with the necessary tranquility and security.

This sentiment was reinforced by previous discussions with a mission led by former Nigerian President, GI (er) Abdulsalami Abubakar.