General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the coup’s leader, has vowed to gradually restore civilian government to the African country.
The new military administration in Niger has guaranteed that civilian rule will resume within three years, but it has also issued a warning to neighbouring countries not to try to meddle in Niamey’s domestic affairs.
General Abdourahmane Tchiani, who overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum in late July, stated in a televised address on Saturday night that his administration will settle on the fundamentals of a transition within a month. Tchiani stated that the actual process should not take more than three years.
Additionally, he emphasised that although neither his administration nor the Nigerien people desire war and “remain open to dialogue,” the nation is prepared to defend itself against any outside “aggression.” This kind of intervention, according to Tchiani, “would not be the breeze that some believe.”
In his first interview with ECOWAS representatives, the general expressed optimism that the two parties “will work together to find a way out of the crisis, in the interests of all.”
Abdel-Fatau Musah, the organization’s commissioner for political affairs, peace, and security, issued a warning on Friday, saying that ECOWAS had decided on the “D-Day” for military action in Niger and that its members had “agreed and fine-tuned what will be required for the intervention.”
To reinstate President Bazoum in Niger, the group issued an order for the deployment of a “standby force” last week.
11 of the 15 member states have consented, according to Musah, to send soldiers if military intervention occurs.
On board, though, are not all ECOWAS members. Both sanctions and any military action against Niger have been rejected by Chad and Guinea.
The military administrations in Burkina Faso and Mali have even threatened to consider a military campaign against Niger to be a declaration of war against themselves.
ECOWAS has been charged with acting at the request of erstwhile colonial powerhouse France, according to the new military administration in Niamey.
The uranium for France’s nuclear reactors comes largely from the mines of Niger. The new military overlords seek to remove the 1,500 soldiers from Paris stationed in the nation. Among those deemed undesirable are the 1,000 US military troops present. The contingents were sent to Niger to take on a variety of terrorist and insurgent organisations that were active in the Sahel.
