President William Ruto has condemned the coup in Niger, maintaining that diplomacy remains the best way to solve crisis the West African nation is facing.

Speaking yesterday during his State visit in Mozambique, Ruto said change of government should only be through democratic elections not military takeovers as witnessed in various countries across Africa.

“We support pronouncements by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) about the current state of Niger. As a continent we should avoid and resist the slide into military dictatorships. Africa has sufficient credentials to manage its affairs,” he said.

Nigerian President and current ECOWAS chair Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said  diplomacy was the ‘best way forward’ to resolve the crisis in Niger after the junta declared that it had ousted the President.

Defense ministers from ECOWAS states also demanded that junta in Niger relinquish power failure to which they will face military action.

Restore peace

At the same time, Ruto said the process to restore peace in Sudan is in cause, revealing that players concerned have decided to consolidate their efforts.

“The kind of destruction of life and property we are witnessing is not justified in any way. The sooner the conflict comes to an end the better,” he said.

Ruto added that while Ecowas had intervened in the Niger crisis, Igad in which Kenya is a member is spearing truce in the military ruled Sudan.

Ruto landed in Mozambique yesterday for a two-day State visit.

The President, in the company of First Lady Rachael Ruto and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, was received by Mozambique Minister for Foreign Affairs Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo.

The visit, according to State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, was meant to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

Bilateral ties

“President William Ruto is embarking on a two-day State Visit to Mozambique today. He will hold discussions with his counterpart, President Filipe Nyusi, aimed at strengthening and expanding bilateral ties between Kenya and Mozambique, with a particular focus on key sectors, including the Blue Economy and Fisheries, Trade, Defence, Agriculture, Energy, Transport, and Capacity Building,” Mohamed said.

Additionally, the two Heads of State will also launch a joint Kenya-Mozambique Trade Committee.

“The visit will provide momentum for the two countries to explore mutual economic opportunities and launch the Kenya-Mozambique Joint Trade Committee,” the State House spokesperson said.

They will also sign eight cooperation agreements that will strengthen the collaboration between the two countries.