Niger Junta Pledges Civilian Transition in 3 Years, Warns Against Millitary Intervention
Nearly a month after generals deposed the elected president of Niger, the political crisis remains unresolved.
Saturday, August 19th, the coup leader and president of the ruling National Council for the Protection of the Homeland (CNSP) addressed the nation and warned regional nations against any military intervention.
Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS commissioner for peace and security, stated on Friday (18 August) that 11 of the organization’s 15 member states had consented to commit troops to military intervention and were “ready to go.”
“Neither the National Council for the Protection of the Homeland nor the people of Niger desire conflict and are willing to engage in dialogue. But let us be clear: if an attack were to be launched against us, it would not be as simple as some seem to believe.”
After his first encounter with an ECOWAS delegation, Tiani issued a warning.
Asserting that the putschists’ objective was not to seize power, the general declared a period of national dialogue to set the groundwork for “a new constitutional life.”
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“Within this framework, the stakeholders who will be invited (to a consultation to establish the transition’s foundations, ed) will formulate concrete transition proposals within 30 days, leading to:
1: Define the fundamental principles that should govern our transition.
2: Define the priority of the transition, which should last no longer than a few months,” Thiani said.
In a 12-minute speech, Tiania condemned the “illegal” and “inhuman” sanctions imposed by ECOWAS against Niger since the military coup.
The general presented transition plans on Saturday night (August 19) that contradict ECOWAS demands to “restore President Bazoum to his functions.”
West African leaders have not ruled out the use of force to attain this objective.
The 11 member states that consented to intervene militarily do not include Guinea, Mali, or Burkina Faso, which are also under military rule as a result of coups. The latter two have warned that any intervention in Niger would be considered an act of war.
Niger Junta Pledges Civilian Transition in 3 Years, Warns Against Millitary Intervention
