On Friday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that Simao went to Niger to discuss with the military the prospects for resolving the crisis in the country. The delegation arrived in the capital, Niamey, later that day and did not include representatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) or the African Union.
The UN delegation was received by Niger's new prime minister, who was accompanied by the defense and interior ministers, the report read.
At the meeting, the rebels condemned economic sanctions against their country and told UN officials that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum was in good health, the outlet reported. They also reportedly blamed the international media for spreading false information.
The talks are expected to continue on Saturday, the broadcaster said.
A coup took place in Niger on July 26. Bazoum was ousted and detained by his own guard, led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani. Following the coup, ECOWAS suspended all financial aid to Niger, froze rebels' assets and imposed a ban on commercial flights to and from the country.
In early August, during a summit in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, ECOWAS leaders agreed to activate a standby force to potentially compel the Nigerien military to reinstate Bazoum. On Friday, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs Abdel-Fatau Musah said that ECOWAS general staff chiefs had agreed on a date for the beginning of military intervention, but would not make it public.