President Bola Tinubu has given his endorsement for a group of Islamic leaders, known as Ulama, to revisit Niger Republic to engage in additional rounds of dialogue with the current coup leaders.

This decision was made on Thursday following a meeting between Tinubu and the prominent clerics, led by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi.

The Ulama had previously engaged in discussions with the junta, headed by General Abdourahamane Tiani, in Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic, two weeks prior.

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Tinubu, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), sanctioned this initiative.

Since the coup on July 26, 2023, which saw the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum, ECOWAS has imposed sanctions on Niger and contemplated the possibility of employing military force against the coup leaders.

The bloc has also authorized the deployment of a standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger but remains committed to diplomatic solutions.

Abdulsalami Abubakar, the ECOWAS envoy to Niger and former Nigerian Head of State, conveyed positive outcomes from the delegation’s previous meeting with the coup leaders.

The junta, led by Tiani, announced intentions to transition back to civilian rule within three years, an approach rejected by ECOWAS.

Niger Republic has faced suspension from the African Union due to the ongoing situation.

This coup has escalated international concerns about the Sahel region, which is grappling with escalating jihadist insurgencies tied to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

Niger becomes the fourth West African nation since 2020 to experience a coup, following Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali.

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The coups in Burkina Faso and Mali have warned that any external military intervention would be seen as a “declaration of war” against their respective countries.

This coup marks Niger’s fifth in history since gaining independence from France in 1960. Mohamed Bazoum’s election in 2021 marked a significant milestone, leading to the country’s first peaceful transition of power.

He, along with his family, has been confined to the official presidential residence since the coup, prompting growing international apprehension about his well-being in detention.