Niger’s Coup Leader Offers Three-Year Transition to Democracy Amid Regional Pressure
Niger’s military ruler General Abdourahamane Tchiani, who seized power in a coup last month, has offered to return the country to democratic rule within three years. He made the announcement on Saturday after meeting with a delegation from the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, which has threatened to intervene militarily to restore constitutional order in Niger.
Tchiani, who was the head of the presidential guard before overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, said he would hold a national dialogue within 30 days to decide the principles and modalities of the transition. He also warned that any attack on Niger by foreign forces would not be easy and that his troops were ready to defend the country’s sovereignty.
“Neither the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland nor the people of Niger want war, and remain open to dialogue,” he said in a televised speech. “But let us be clear: If an attack were to be undertaken against us, it will not be a walk in the park some people seem to think.”
Tchiani also denounced the “illegal and inhumane” sanctions imposed by ECOWAS on Niger, which include cutting off electricity, blocking trade and freezing assets. He said the sanctions were hurting the population and undermining the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region, where armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL operate.
“Sanctions are not conceived with the aim of finding a solution but to bring us to our knees and humiliate us,” he said. “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.”
ECOWAS, however, rejected Tchiani’s proposal and insisted on a shorter and more inclusive transition. The bloc’s commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, told the BBC that ECOWAS was not accepting any prolonged transition in the region and that the military junta had to hand over power as soon as possible.
“ECOWAS is not accepting any prolonged transition again in the region. They just have to get ready to hand over in the shortest possible time,” he said. “The earlier they give power back to civilians and concentrate on their primary responsibility that is defending the territorial integrity of Niger, the better for them.”
Musah also said that ECOWAS had agreed on a “D-Day” for possible military intervention and that 11 of its 15 member states had committed troops to the operation. He said the “military aspect is very much on”.
ECOWAS has taken a harder stance on Niger’s coup than it has on previous ones in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea. The bloc has also received support from France and the United States, which both have military bases in Niger and are involved in counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel.
Tchiani’s coup was the fourth in Niger’s history and came just two days before Bazoum was due to be sworn in as president following a democratic election. Bazoum has been under house arrest since then and has met with ECOWAS mediators on Sunday.
