The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has reiterated its desire to use dialogue to resolve the current crisis in Niger.
Its Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (CPAPS), Dr Abdel-Fatau Musa, said the sub-regional bloc has always maintained that military intervention will be the last option.
“It is you the media who are actually beating the drums of war,” Dr Musa stated on The Keypoints on TV3/3FM on Saturday, August 19.
“Right from the beginning of this crisis, Ecowas has always said we are going to exhaust all our tools, the array of tools that we have.
“We condemn the coup, we ask for the release of President Bazoum and his family, we ask the junta CNSP to restore constitutional order [but] all that have been on deaf ears.”
He said if the junta is willing to engage the bloc on dialogue, military intervention will not be an option.
On Thursday, August 10 in Abuja, Nigeria, the Authority of Heads of State and Government of Ecowas urged member states to mobilise a stand-by force in order to restore constitutional order in Niger.
The decision, according to Dr Musa, comes after two missions of Ecowas were turned down by the CNSP led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani.
He said Ecowas has always made overtures for dialogue but the junta has rejected all that.
“All these steps are there and we are still asking them to give peace a chance by opening up the diplomatic channel.
“We are not the one shutting the door on them. It is rather they shutting the door on us.”
He said the junta has finally agreed to receive an Ecowas mission on Saturday for peace talks to begin.