A ray of hope for a peaceful resolution of the standoff between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the military junta in Niger Republic has appeared as the coup leaders have accepted to open their doors to dialogue and diplomacy.

The man at the head of the junta, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, gave the indication on Saturday during a meeting with Nigeria’s Intervention Team, consisting of prominent Islamic scholars across Nigeria led by the National Chairman of Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, Sheikh Bala Lau.

The body of Ulammas (Islamic scholars) met with President Bola Tinubu on Thursday and had offered to intervene in the escalating crisis in Niger, especially between the country’s coup leaders and other West African regional body, a situation that had already raised global tension.