Niger: Niger’s coup leader has suggested a three-year transition to civilian rule after meeting a delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The coup leader warned that any attack on the country would “not be a walk in the park” for those involved.
General Abdourahmane Tchiani gave no details on the planned transition of power, saying only that the principles for the move would be decided within 30 days at a dialogue to be hosted by the ruling military council.
“Neither the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland nor the people of Niger want war and remain open to dialogue,” General Tchiani stated after his first meeting with the West African leaders in the Nigerien capital, Niamey.
“But let us be clear. If an attack were to be undertaken against us, it will not be the walk in the park some people seem to think,” the coup leader added.
ECOWAS has imposed severe sanctions on Niger following the July 26 coup and has ordered the deployment of a “standby force” to restore constitutional rule in the country. The bloc recently stated that an undisclosed “D-Day” had been agreed upon for possible military intervention and that 11 of its 15 member states had agreed to commit troops to the operation.
In his speech, Mr. Tchiani claimed ECOWAS was “getting ready to attack Niger by setting up an occupying army in collaboration with a foreign army” and denounced what he called “illegal” and “inhuman” sanctions imposed by the regional bloc.
“I reaffirm here that our ambition is not to confiscate power. I also reaffirm our readiness to engage in any dialogue, as long as it takes into account the orientations desired by the proud and resilient people of Niger,” the military general noted.
ECOWAS has taken a harder stance on the Niger coup than it has on previous ones in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea. The bloc is also seeking diplomatic ways to reverse the power grab in Niger, a country that has strategic importance for regional and global powers because of its uranium and oil reserves.
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