2023-08-21 18:45:00
The ruling junta in Niger has offered ECOWAS a three-year transition period to restore democracy. Which she refused.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has rejected a proposal by Niger’s ruling junta to a three-year transition period to restore democracy. This was stated on Monday by a commissioner from the regional bloc.
Over the weekend, General Abdourahamane Tiani, leader of the putschists who overthrew democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, said the junta would launch a national dialogue for a democratic transition that “should not last more than three years”. He made this announcement following meeting on Saturday in the capital Niamey with a delegation from ECOWAS, who also met Mohamed Bazoum the same day. “Release Bazoum without preconditionsrestore constitutional order without further delay,” Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, said of the junta’s proposal, stressing that the regional bloc’s position remained clear.
In the wake of last month’s coup, ECOWAS had initially set a one-week ultimatum for the junta to restore constitutional order, threatening otherwise military intervention in the country. While Mali and Burkina Faso, neighboring countries also ruled by juntas, gave their support to the Nigerien putschists, ECOWAS has since been trying to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisiswhile preparing for a possible armed intervention.
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