After consultation with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, the President of Chad, General Mahamat Idriss Déby, has met with the ousted President of Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum.
The meeting on Sunday was said to be the first contact the detained president has had with anyone beyond the military authorities holding him in the presidential palace in Niamey.
The Chadian president also met with General Abdourahamane Tchiani who has since declared himself the new head of state of Niger Republic.
Photos released on the visit were the first sighting of the embattled Nigerien president since the putschists struck last week.
Deby was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Sunday where he had a meeting with President Tinubu before the commencement of the extraordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS chaired by the Nigerian leader.
Deby disclosed the completion of his mission in a tweet by @ZagaOlamakama, a security expert.
He stated: “Conclusion of the visit of President of Chad, General Mahamat Kaka Idriss Déby to Niger!
“After a brief consultation trip this morning in Abuja on the invitation of the Nigerian President, Acting President of the CEDEAO, I concluded my trip with a visit to the sister Republic of Niger which is going through a major political crisis.
“In Niamey, I had extensive exchanges with the leaders of the National Council for the Protection of Homeland (CNSP), namely General Abdourahamane Tchiani, with President Mohamed Bazoum and former President Mahamadou Issoufou in a brotherly approach that aims to explore all the paths to find a peaceful exit to the crisis shaking this neneighbouringountry,” Mahamat Kaka Idriss Déby.”