The ECOWAS regional military chiefs have set Thursday and Friday to meet for further negotiations on the current situation in Niger.
This happened after the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, insisted ECOWAS apply more pressure to the military junta that has caused turmoil in the Niger Republic.
The meeting scheduled for this week in Accra, Ghana, was originally scheduled for last weekend but was postponed.
The German Development Minister, Svenja Schulze, has also called for the immediate release of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, who is being held in his basement with his wife and son.
Bazoum, 63, has been held in the basement of his palace since the military staged a coup about three weeks ago.
“We call for the immediate release of President Mohamed Bazoum and for the full restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger,” she said.
The statement comes a few days after the Junta announced that they will be prosecuting Bazoum for high treason and undermining state security, which carries the death penalty.
According to ECOWAS officials, this is the latest indication that the junta will defy international efforts to return control to Mr. Bazoum.
