Niger Seeks Togo’s Mediation in Military Rule Crisis

The Niger military government has asked Togo to serve as a go-between in its talks with the international world, especially with the West African nations that last summer sanctioned it.

The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) placed severe financial sanctions on Niger after the coup d’état in an effort to put pressure on the military to reinstate constitutional rule.

General Salifou Moby, the Minister of Defence for Niger, met with President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo. General Mody has invited the President of the Republic of Togo to assist this engagement with different partners. Togo has taken several bilateral measures to engage in communication with the military authority in Niger.

After the coup d’état, France, the former colonial power of Niger, has been at odds with the military dictatorship and has asked Togo to act as a guarantor within the scope of the agreement defining the French military withdrawal. Robert Dussey, the foreign minister of Togo, stated that his country is willing to assist in serving as a mediator in the communication between Niger and the international community.