War is unnecessary, but Niger junta informs ECOWAS that it is prepared to defend itself

Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, the head of the junta that overthrew the government in the Niger Republic, declared on Saturday that his nation does not desire war but is prepared to defend itself if necessary.

The Al Jazeera network paraphrased Tchiani as saying, “Neither the army nor the people of Niger want war, but we will resist any manifestation of it.”

He stated that the Economic Community of West African States’ member nations are unaware that the Niger is now essential for preventing regional instability in the face of an uptick in terrorist activities.

Tchiani stated that the sanctions imposed on his nation were intended to put pressure on the rebels rather than to resolve the current crisis.

Tchiani added that rebels prefer to find a solution that serves the needs of the populace rather than assuming control of the nation.

According to reports in the media on Saturday, an ECOWAS team travelled to the capital of Niger and met with ousted president Mohamed Bazoum to discuss the terms of his confinement.

Reuters noted that the delegation also spoke with Tchiani later in the day.

On July 26, Niger saw a coup, and Bazoum was overthrown and imprisoned by his own guard, which was headed by Tchiani.

Following the takeover, ECOWAS cut off all financial help to Niger, froze the assets of the rebels, and prohibited commercial flights into and out of the nation.

Early in August, ECOWAS officials decided to create a standby force to perhaps persuade the Nigerien military to restore Bazoum during a summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

ECOWAS general staff leaders agreed on a start date for the military intervention on Friday, according to ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs Abdel-Fatau Musah, but they would not make the date public.