West African leaders say dialogue with the leaders of the coup in Niger will be the “bedrock” of their approach to the crisis.
The regional group Ecowas is meeting in Nigeria, to discuss how to push Niger back to democracy.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said the organisation was prioritising diplomacy.
Earlier, there had been threats of military action if Niger’s ousted President Mohamed Bazoum was not reinstated.
But Niger’s coup leaders have ignored the warning, and correspondents say opposition to a military solution appears to be growing – not least from within Nigeria and from Mali, which has backed the coup leaders.
The military junta has announced a new 21-member government with key posts going to those who led the coup.
Yet Mr Tinubu has expressed confidence that this second Ecowas summit on resolving Niger’s crisis will be a “defining moment” towards a “stronger, more resilient, and integrated West Africa”.
