The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has rejected the three-year transition plan proposed by Niger Republic’s military junta.
It will be recalled that the coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, had at a meeting with ECOWAS delegation, led by General Abadulsalami Abubakar, in Niamey on Saturday, promised the military government would return Niger Republic to democracy in three years.
ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, told BBC in an interview that the proposal was unacceptable to ECOWAS, setting the ground for a military operation.
Tchiani also said in a televised address at the weekend that he did not wish to “confiscate” power and that a transition of power back to civilian rule will not go beyond three years.
Niger’s new leaders have accused France, a close Bazoum ally, of being behind the anti-coup stance taken by ECOWAS, which again at the weekend made a fresh push for a diplomatic solution.
According to AFP, after ECOWAS chiefs of staff met in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, on Friday, the 17-nation bloc said it had agreed on a date for a potential intervention but nonetheless sent a diplomatic delegation to Niamey at the weekend, led by Abubakar.
In his televised address on Saturday, Tchiani alleged that ECOWAS was “getting ready to attack Niger by setting up an occupying army in collaboration with a foreign army”, without saying which country he meant.
Tchiani, however, warned that the military and people of Niger would defend the country should ECOWAS go ahead with its invasion plan.
It was the first time Tchiani, met with ECOWAS delegation after rebuffing previous attempts.
Saturday’s meeting was a last-ditch diplomacy scramble by ECOWAS to resolve the crisis peacefully and followed last week’s announcement that 11 of its 15 member states had agreed to intervene militarily if democratically-elected President Bazoum was not released from house arrest and reinstated.
The bloc’s three other countries under military rule following coups, Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso, were not included.
Shortly after the meetings Saturday, Tchiani went on state television and laid out a roadmap for the country, saying it would return to civilian rule within three years and that details for the plan would be decided within 30 days through a national dialogue set for immediate launch.
“I am convinced that we will find solutions to all the challenges we face and that we will work together to find a way out of the crisis, in the interests of all,” the official said.
Meanwhile, Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis 11, yesterday made case for a diplomatic solution to the political crisis in Niger Republic.
“I am following with concern what is happening in Niger, and join the bishops’ call in favour of peace in the country and stability in the Sahel.
“I join with prayer the efforts of the international community to find a peaceful solution as soon as possible for the good of everyone,” Pope Francis said while addressing the faithful in St Peter’s Square after his Angelus prayer.
Vanguard
