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West African regional bloc ECOWAS was forced to postpone a ministerial mission to Niger after an aircraft it chartered to fly to Niger encountered technical problems.

The delegation was due in the capital Niamey but failed to depart from Abuja airport in Nigeria.

“ECOWAS conveyed its regrets to the Niger authorities and stated its resolve to finding a new date to field the mission as soon as possible,” a statement released by ECOWAS on Friday said.

The mission is part of efforts by the regional bloc to find a negotiated settlement to the political challenges facing the Sahel nation following the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum in a military takeover in July last year.

ECOWAS has insisted on the reinstatement of Bazoum and restoration of constitutional order in the country within a short transition period. The bloc has also imposed tough sanctions on the country following the military takeover.

Niger’s military government leadership maintains that it plans to hand back power to a civilian administration after three years.