West African leaders agreed on Sunday to form a new committee to talk with Niger’s military junta, making it at least the third committee formed by the regional group, ECOWAS, to negotiate with the military authorities who deposed President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup in July.

The new group, which includes the presidents of Togo, Sierra Leone, and Benin, will seek a commitment from the Niger junta (CMSP) to a fast democratic transition as well as the release of Mr. Bazoum, his family, and some of his allies.

“The Authority decides to set up a committee of heads of state made up of the President and Head of State of the Republic of Togo, the President and Head of State of the Republic of Sierra Leone, and the President and Head of State of the Republic of Benin to engage with the CMSP and other stakeholders with a view to agreeing on a short transition roadmap, establishing transition organs, and facilitating the setting up of a transition monitoring and evaluation mechanism towards this speedy restoration of constitutional order,” the communiqué states.

Omar Touray, the president of the ECOWAS Commission, read the communiqué in full to the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS at the conclusion of its 64th ordinary session on Sunday in Abuja.

ECOWAS will gradually ease sanctions on Niger based on the outcomes of the committee’s engagement with the CMSP. If the CMSP fails to comply, ECOWAS will maintain sanctions and request the African Union to enforce targeted sanctions.

The leaders reject force for Niger’s constitutional restoration, focusing on dialogue and democracy. Sanctions imposed since the July coup include trade restrictions and account freezes.

Apart from the resolution on Niger, the ECOWAS leaders also resolved to urgently review efforts to activate a standby force for counterterrorism operations in areas affected by terrorist groups in the region.