ECOWAS Special Envoy to Niger Republic, retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has expressed the hope that the rift between the regional bloc and the junta in Niger would be resolved through diplomacy.

The Special Envoy, who briefed President Tinubu on the outcome of his latest discussions with the junta, said the soft-pedalling of the coupists had given a glimmer of hope that a peaceful resolution of the crisis was imminent.

“Our visit to Niger has been very fruitful. It has opened an avenue to start talking, and hopefully, we’ll get somewhere”, General Abdulsalam said.

On the junta’s three-year transition plan, General Abdulsalam said they opened a discussion on that, adding that he had intimated the President about the junta’s proposition.

“They have made their own point, and then I’ve made my report to the Chairman of the ECOWAS Heads of State. He will now consult with his colleagues, and then the ding dong starts, and we’ll get somewhere”, he explained.

He emphasised that no nation would want to go to war, saying however that war is the last option to consider, when all other options have been exhausted.