Adedokun Waliyu 
Algeria, a North African country, on Monday said that Niger accepted its mediation offer five weeks after it proposed a six-month transition process led by a civilian.
Algeria’s foreign ministry has said that the Niger Republic military leaders have accepted the Algerian offer to mediate in the West African Country’s political crisis which led to the takeover of power by the junta.
Algeria, a North African country, on Monday said that Niger accepted its mediation offer five weeks after it proposed a six-month transition process led by a civilian.
According to Saharareporters, Reuters reports that the statement by Algeria’s foreign ministry which was read out on national television said that the country received Niger’s official notification of its acceptance of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s mediation initiative.
Meanwhile, there was no immediate comment from Niger’s ruling junta, but it was reported that Algeria has repeatedly warned against any military response to the crisis in neighbouring Niger.
The presidential guard of the Niger Republic seized power and established a military regime on July 26 and after several efforts by the West African bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the junta said they wanted a three-year transition process.
In late August, Algerian Foreign Minister, Ahmed Attaf, said Algeria had spoken several times to Niger’s military leaders and proposed an initiative to return the country to normal constitutional order.
Attaf said that Algeria would propose guarantees for all sides in the crisis and host a conference on development in the Sahel region, without elaborating.
Recall that the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, who is the ECOWAS Chairman in September said he was seeking to re-establish constitutional order and address political and economic problems in Niger and welcomed any support for that process.
Tinubu-led ECOWAS has been trying to negotiate with the Niger military junta while it has imposed several sanctions on the junta, while maintaining that it is ready to deploy troops for military action against the country if diplomatic efforts to restore constitutional government failed.
