On Monday, Niger's military-appointed prime minister expressed optimism about reaching a deal with the West African bloc Ecowas in the "coming days." Ecowas has threatened to employ force to restore civilian rule in Niger following a coup in July. The prime minister also mentioned ongoing discussions about a swift withdrawal of French forces from Niger, a move that follows deteriorating relations between Niger and France after the military takeover.

"We have not stopped contacts with Ecowas, we are continuing contacts. We have good hopes of reaching an agreement in the coming days," said Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine during a press conference in Niamey.

Ecowas, the Economic Community of West African States, imposed significant sanctions on Niger after rebel soldiers overthrew the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, on July 26. Ecowas has also repeatedly warned of military intervention to reinstate Bazoum if diplomatic efforts fail.

The crisis revolves around the timeline for returning to civilian rule. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the current chairman of Ecowas, suggested a nine-month transition, similar to Nigeria's experience in the late 1990s. Algeria, Niger's influential northern neighbor, has proposed a six-month transition, while the military rulers had previously mentioned a three-year handover period.

Ecowas has taken a firm stance on Niger following a series of coups in the region since 2020, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.

In addition, Prime Minister Zeine mentioned ongoing "contacts" to facilitate the rapid withdrawal of French forces from Niger, although he emphasized the desire to maintain cooperation with France despite recent tensions. France has around 1,500 troops in Niger, and tensions escalated after France backed the ousted President Bazoum and refused to acknowledge the coup leaders as the legitimate government. France has also ignored announcements canceling military agreements and threats to expel the French ambassador.

The post-coup government renounced military accords with France on August 3, claiming that French troops in Niger were now in an "illegal" position.

Meanwhile, Niger reopened its airspace on Monday after imposing a flight ban on August 6 in response to Ecowas' threat.

China has also expressed its intent to play a "mediating role" in the political crisis, stating that it supports African countries in resolving their problems in an African manner. China is a significant economic partner for Niger, particularly in the energy sector.