Just in: AU meeting in Ethiopia over Niger crisis

As part of efforts to end the political impasse in Niger, The African Union (AU) has announced that it is holding a meeting on Monday following the coup on July 26 that removed President Mohamed Bazoum.

“AU’s Peace & Security Council meets to receive an update on the evolution of the situation in Niger and the efforts to address it,” the AU said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

In attendance are AU Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat, representatives from Niger and the West African bloc ECOWAS.

Mr. Faki earlier expressed “deep concern” at the reported poor conditions of Bazoum’s detention, calling his treatment at the hands of coup leaders “unacceptable.”

The summit in Ethiopia follows a meeting that some Nigerian delegates of scholars had with the General Abdourahmane Tchiani-led junta in Niamey over the weekend.

The coup leader, at the meeting, expressed the readiness of the junta to dialogue with the ECOWAS leaders to end the political crisis.

Despite that, the junta has announced that it would prosecute the deposed President for high treason and undermining national security.

The latest development is seen as a plan to resist international pressure to return power to Mr Bazoum.