Nigerian Air Force aircraft departs Abuja for Paris, In midst of political crisis in Niger

Due to a delay, the Dassault Falcon 7X with the registration number 5N-FGU left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at 4:18 p.m. instead of departing at the scheduled time of 3 p.m.

When this report was submitted, the cause of the delay could not be determined. SaharaReporters did establish, however, that the plane is scheduled to land at Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 10.42 p.m.

The plane traveled to Lagos, Abuja, Maiduguri, Kano, and Gombe in the preceding six days before landing in Abuja around 6 p.m. on Saturday.

The identities of those aboard the Nigerian Air Force plane and the reason for its departure for Paris are also unknown, but SaharaReporters has learned that it may have something to do with the political unrest that has gripped the Republic of Niger in the wake of the July 26 coup d’état that toppled Mohamed Bazoum, the country’s democratically elected president.

Given Niger’s proximity to Nigeria, many Nigerians have encouraged the Nigerian government to refrain from taking part in any military action there. There are rumors that the United States of America and France are pressuring the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including the president of Nigeria, Tinubu, to consider military involvement in the event that ongoing negotiations fail.

The military junta in Niger has so far called the bluff of the regional bloc, which is led by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and has imposed sanctions on the country and demanded the reinstatement of the ousted president.

Omar Alieu Touray, the president of the ECOWAS Commission, told reporters on Friday that the West African group was devoted to preventing the occurrence of coups in the area.

Touray urged the Niger junta to change its mind, saying that it was still possible for the military to do so and listen to reason because the other regional leaders would not support a coup d’état.

The community’s resolve to stop the coup d’etat spiral in the area is the main problem, according to the community.

According to Touray, a military operation is not a “invasion” of Niger or a proclamation of war.

He claimed that under the ECOWAS statutes approved by the members, such an intervention would be a legal use of force.

On Thursday, Tinubu stated that the coup d’etat in the Niger Republic was a serious situation that required him to manage the difficult task of preventing those in the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and those outside of ECOWAS control from worsening the political situation in Niger.

Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu’s special adviser on media and publicity, said this in a statement. He urged a group of Islamic scholars (Ulamas) who had been in talks with the Niger military junta to facilitate the return of constitutional authority to the ousted Bazoum to move forward with their ongoing discussions more quickly.

“I am in charge of a really grave issue. If you ignore ECOWAS, other people—those whose actions are beyond our control—will respond. I’m the one who’s suppressing those sides. I am what is stopping ECOWAS.

“Even as of this morning, I have received a deluge of phone calls on the military power and contributions of other nations. I instructed them to wait, though. The Nigerian President stated, “I will get back to you after my meeting with the Ulamas.

Following a briefing by the Ulama-affiliated Islamic clerics on their talks with the junta in Niger, Tinubu made his remark immediately after.

On Thursday, Tinubu ordered them to return to Niamey, the capital of Niger, where they can carry on their discussions with the coup leaders in an effort to end the nation’s political turmoil.