Visit to Chad by the Prime Minister appointed by the junta

2023-08-16 04:28:25

While a military intervention is envisaged by the States of West Africa to dislodge it from power, the junta which took control in Niamey is trying to establish its legitimacy. With this in mind, the head of the government formed after the July 26 coup in Niger, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, traveled to Chad on Tuesday, where he was received by the transitional president, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno.

Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine arrived on a Nigerian military plane and was greeted at N’Djamena airport by his counterpart Saleh Kebzabo, before meeting Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno at the presidency, according to a message and photos released by the Prime Minister on Facebook.

“We are in a process of transition”

This meeting took place as several countries called on Tuesday for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Niger, two days before a West African military meeting to discuss a possible armed intervention to restore elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

“We have arrived bearing a message from the Head of State of Niger, General Tiani, who expresses his solidarity and his fraternity, and who asks me to renew this feeling of good neighborliness and good fraternity between Chad and Niger. “Explained Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, in a statement released by the Chadian presidency after his meeting with Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno. “We are in a process of transition, we have explained the ins and outs, and reiterated our availability to remain open and exchange with all parties, but have insisted on the independence of our country”, he added. .

Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, an economist by training who served as finance minister in the 2000s, was appointed a week ago by the perpetrators of the coup that overthrew President Bazoum on July 26. Nothing had leaked from this visit before the announcement of the arrival of the head of the Nigerien government. Chad shares nearly 1,200 km of border with Niger. The Chadian president also went to Niamey on July 30 to play his diplomatic card to resolve the crisis.