Niger Coup Leader Suggests Return To Democracy Within 3 Years

In the dialogue, “national priorities” would be outlined, and “basic values would be demanded to lead the rebuilding” of the West African nation.

General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the head of the military government in Niger, has suggested reestablishing democracy within three years.

On July 26, Tchiani and others staged a coup that resulted in the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum and the taking of power.

General Tchiani stated during a televised address on Saturday night that neither the junta nor the people of Niger “want for conflict and remain open to dialogue.”

He stated that the junta will organize a public conversation in which the transition’s guiding principles would be defined within the next 30 days, and that the transition itself “should continue no longer than three years.”

According to him, the conversation will specify “national goals” and “ask for core values to lead the restoration” of the West African nation.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders have responded to the coup by implementing sanctions and giving the junta till today to disband or face a potential military intervention by a standby army in the area.

On Saturday, Tchiani met with a team from the ECOWAS, which also visited Bazoum, in the nation’s capital, Niamey.

The junta’s goal, according to Tchiani’s broadcast speech, was “not to seize power,” he added.

He continued, “I also restate our readiness to engage in any discourse, so long as it takes into consideration the orientations wanted by the proud and resilient people of Niger.

The junta, he said, would defend itself if attacked.

It won’t be as simple as some people seem to think if an attack were launched against us.

For Bazoum’s “high treason” prosecution, the junta earlier asserted that it had amassed evidence.

The Sahel region of Africa, which includes Mali and Burkina Faso, has experienced a number of recent power grabs, is centrally located in Niger.