The ulama were received by the newly appointed civilian prime minister by the junta, Ali Muhammad Lamin Zain. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced Saturday that its meeting scheduled for that day in Accra would be postponed indefinitely for “technical reasons.” On Thursday, the organization announced that it was ready to start an intervention to restore the democratic system in Niger, but it continues to prioritize diplomacy. As a result of the announcement, the Nigerian military junta was ordered to put its army on combat alert on Friday.
According to the ANP news agency, religious leaders consulted with the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States this week about the role they could play in the crisis. Mediation attempts have so far failed.
According to one of his advisers, deposed Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted from power and placed under house arrest, was seen by his doctor on Saturday, but Bazoum’s fate remains uncertain. The president has his son and wife in his home. Several foreign countries and organizations have expressed concern about Bazoum’s health and fate since the July 26 coup.
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