THE Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has rejected the three-year power transition plan proposed by Niger Republic’s military junta.
Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security for ECOWAS, Abdel-Fatau Musah, said the body won’t accept a prolonged transition period.
He added: “They just have to get ready to hand over in the shortest possible time.
“The earlier they give power back to civilians and concentrate on their primary responsibility of defending the territorial integrity of Niger, the better for them.”
The junta leader, Abdourahmane Tiani, said Niger did not want a war but would defend itself against any foreign intervention, if compelled to fight.
He warned that, “any intervention will open a Pandora’s Box and will not be a walk in the park.”
The head of the military junta in Niger, General Abdourahamane Tiani, had promised that the junta will relinquish power within three years.
In a televised broadcast, he said: “Our ambition is not to confiscate power. Transition period will not exceed three years. Meanwhile, political parties are urged to submit their vision for the transition within 30 days.
The prospects of dialogue brightened when over the weekend Nigeria’s former military head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, led a delegation of ECOWAS to Niger in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to reach a peaceful solution with the junta.
The delegation met with Prime Minister Ali Zeine and the sacked president, Mohamed Bazoum, after meeting the head of the junta.
