Will Ross
Thursday August 3, 2023
The mediators are led by Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former military leader of Nigeria
The West African regional bloc, Ecowas, says it has a delegation in Niger to negotiate with the leaders of last week's coup.
It is led by the former military ruler of Nigeria, Abdulsalami Abubakar.
At the start of a separate meeting involving West African defence officials in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, an Ecowas spokesperson said the use of force to reverse the coup would be a last resort.
On Sunday, the bloc had warned it was giving Niger's new rulers a week to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum.
The state power company in Niger says Nigeria has stopped supplying its northern neighbour with electricity.
There are reports of lengthy blackouts in several towns and cities.