ECOWAS rejects junta’s 3-year transition plan – Vanguard “/>
The three- year transition plan put forth by the military junta in the Niger Republic has been rejected by the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS.
Recall that General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the mastermind of the coup, claimed that the military administration would restore democracy to the Niger Republic in three years during a meeting with an ECOWAS team on Saturday in Niamey.
According to VANGUARD NEWS, in an interview with the BBC yesterday (Sunday) Abdel- Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, stated that the idea was unacceptable to ECOWAS and would pave the way for a military action.
Thousands of Nigerians flooded the streets yesterday to show their support for the military regime.
In the event that diplomacy fails to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to power, ECOWAS has insisted on invading the nation to drive away coupists. This is the context in which their protest took place.
The protest took place on a day when a government official in Niger claimed that negotiations between the ECOWAS mission, commanded by the late General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and the junta had produced very little progress.
The official also stated that the presidential guard, which removed President Bazoum, already suffers from severe divisions and predicted that most of the soldiers stationed there would escape if ECOWAS attacked the Niger Republic.
The protesters specifically targeted ECOWAS with anti- colonialist chants, because it is preparing a potential military intervention to restore elected President Mohamed Bazoum in the event that current negotiations with the coup leaders fail.
Although the Sahel state’ s new military rulers have officially outlawed protests, in reality, those in favour of the coup are still permitted to hold them.
The demonstrators waved placards, saying ” stop the military intervention” and ” No, to sanctions” , in reference to the financial and trade restrictions imposed by ECOWAS, four days after the coup on July 26.
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