Efforts by the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS to enthrone democratic order in Niger Republic appears to have failed after the Junta said on TV that it plans to give power back to civilians in three years time and not afraid of ECOWAS military action
. ECOWAS had Saturday sent a delegation led by Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar ( Rtd) and Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar lll to Niger to mediate in talks aimed to restore democratic order in the country.
The delegation on arrival in Niger met with the Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine and later, the ruler, General Abdourahamane Tiani before meeting the ousted President, Mohammed Bazoum.
Tiani ,in a national address said condemned ECOWAS sanctions on Niger and said that the military is not ambitious about holding on to power but would roll out plan to lay the foundation for transition to civil rule in three years
“Our ambition is not to confiscate power,” Any transition of power “would not go beyond three years”,
The Nigerien Leader however boasted ” “If an attack were to be undertaken against us, it will not be the walk in the park some people seem to think.”
According to him, “ECOWAS is getting ready to attack Niger by setting up an occupying army in collaboration with a foreign army,”
Although, what the coupists told the delegation was not made public , the contents of the TV broadcast by Tiani proved that they are not prepared to accept ECOWAS demands and brazenly challenging the block supported by 11 out of the 15 members to do their worst.
On July 26,a group of soldiers led by General Abdourahamane Tiani,leader of the presidential guards arrested the president, Mohammed Bazoum and members of his family and government in a coup and seized power.
Bazoum, the only Arab president in the history of Niger had been under house arrest since the coup.
In its disapproval of coups in the region, ECOWAS on July 30,imposed biting sanctions on Niger and threatened military action as the last option.
Defence chiefs under the bloc also met last week to put finishing touches to the order of ” Stand by Force by the Leaders if the Junta failed to agree on their demands .
From the developments, it is unclear what line of action ECOWAS would thread on, Would it continue the jaw jaw – diplomatic option,or exploit the war option?
Niger,a landlocked country and one of the poorest in the world has over nine ethnic groups with Hausa as majority having the most population at%53. 1 . Others are Zarma and Songhay %21.2, Tuareg %11. O, Fulani %6.5, Kanuri %5.9, Gurma %0.8,Toubou %0.4, Arab %0.4, Others %0.9.
