Niger Coup: ECOWAS Rejects Junta’s Proposed 3 Years Transition To Democracy

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has rejected the Niger junta’s three-year power transition plan.

The ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musa, announced the development in an interview with the BBC on Sunday.

General Abdourahamane Tchiani, commander of the Niger junta, announced in a live address on Saturday night that the army will hand over control to the civilian government within the next three years, according to Tribune Online.

However, in the interview, Abdel-Fatau Musa said that General Tchiani’s proposal is just a smokescreen for dialogue and diplomacy.

On Saturday, former Military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), led a delegation of the ECOWAS to Niger in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to reach a peaceful solution with the Niger junta.

The delegation met with Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine who received them at the airport and led them to the presidential palace.

They later met with the ousted Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum, after meeting General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the head of the junta.

It was the first peace talk led by Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar that ECOWAS activated its standby force as it said the Niger junta had ignored the ultimatum to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum.