President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed on Tuesday that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will not lift the sanctions imposed on the Niger junta, despite their expressed willingness to negotiate with the regional bloc to address the crisis in the francophone nation.

During a meeting with the Special Envoy of President Ali Ondimba and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Gabon, Hermann Immongault, at the State House in Abuja, Tinubu, who is also the ECOWAS chairman, emphasized that military takeovers were no longer acceptable in Africa.

The junta, led by Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, has requested the restoration of electricity that had been cut off by the Nigerian government as part of the sanctions following the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.

Tchiani conveyed this demand during a meeting with Ulamas from Nigeria in Niamey.

Tinubu praised the solidarity shown by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in response to the political impasse in Niger.

He underlined that military interference in democratic governance was no longer tolerable, as demonstrated by the support from President Bongo of Gabon, who also chairs ECCAS.

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In regard to the junta’s demands, a member of the delegation to Niger, Prof. Abubakar Aliyu, mentioned that they sought an opportunity to present their side of the story and the restoration of electricity.

The junta expressed readiness to negotiate with ECOWAS leaders at a suitable location.

Despite the junta’s willingness to engage in dialogue, ECOWAS military chiefs are set to meet in Accra, Ghana, to discuss potential intervention in Niger.

The meeting, originally scheduled for last weekend, was postponed and is now slated for Thursday and Friday.

This meeting takes place alongside talks hosted by the African Union in Addis Ababa, bringing together representatives from the regime and ECOWAS.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also weighed in on the situation, advocating for a peaceful diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

Putin’s call to Mali’s junta leader, Assimi Goita, is of significance due to Russia’s growing influence in the Sahel region.

Niger’s strategic importance in terms of resources and its role in the fight against regional Islamist insurgency has drawn attention from various global powers, including Western governments and China.

Despite international pressure to reinstate the ousted President and the rejection of negotiation attempts by the junta, the situation in Niger remains complex and in flux, with different players advocating for their interests and solutions.