August 20, (THEWILL) – The military junta in Niger has assured the international community that it will not exceed three years in restoring democracy in the country, declaring that its ambition was never meant to confiscate power.
Leader of the Junta, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, declared the position in a 12-minute televised address on Saturday evening.
“Our ambition is not to confiscate power. The duration of the transition cannot go beyond three years,” he said.
While warning foreign countries against military intervention, Tchiani said, “If an attack were to be undertaken against us, it will not be the walkover some people believe in.
“ECOWAS is preparing to attack Niger by setting up an occupying army in collaboration with a foreign army,” Tchiani said, as he denounced the “illegal” and “inhuman” sanctions of the regional bloc.
Tchiani also announced the launch of a “national dialogue,” which has 30 days to formulate concrete proposals to lay “the foundations of a new constitutional life”.
Tchiani’s declaration came amid pressure from ECOWAS and possible military intervention to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
Earlier on Saturday, a West African delegation arrived in Niamey in a last diplomatic effort to resolve Niger’s political impasse.
Led by former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), it met Mohamed Bazoum as well as the Prime Minister appointed by the military, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine. The delegation also reportedly met with leaders of the military junta.
The diplomatic mediation followed a two-day meeting of the ECOWAS military chiefs in Accra, Ghana, where it expressed readiness to deploy forces in Niger to restore constitutional order.
“We are ready to intervene as soon as the order is given. The day of the intervention has also been fixed,” said the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah.
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