Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday proposed the idea of a transition to democracy in neighboring Niger, mirroring the nine-month course of that his personal nation skilled within the late Nineteen Nineties.
The Economic Community of West African States has imposed sanctions on Niger after troops ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup on July 26 and the bloc threatened army intervention as a final resort if talks fail to revive civilian rule.
In an announcement on Thursday, the bloc insisted it needed Bazoum again in energy instantly.
“The military authorities in Niger must restore constitutional order immediately by liberating and reinstating… President Mohamed Bazoum,” it stated.
Niger’s new army leaders have dug in, saying they need a most three-year transition interval to revive constitutional order and have ordered police to expel France’s envoy as tensions construct with a key accomplice in Niger’s anti-extremist battle.
Late on Thursday, Niger’s inside ministry introduced it was stopping U.N. companies, NGOs and worldwide organizations from working in army “operation zones.”
It didn’t specify which areas had been affected, however stated the measures had been “due to the current security situation.”
“All activities and or movements in the zones of operations are temporarily suspended,” it stated.
Transition interval
Tinubu stated Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999 after a nine-month transition interval instituted by former army head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who has additionally headed delegations to fulfill the Niger junta.
“The president sees no reason why such cannot be replicated in Niger, if Niger’s military authorities are sincere,” the Nigerian presidency stated in an announcement.
Algeria, Niger’s influential northern neighbor, has met with West Africa leaders in a bid to keep away from any army intervention in Niger and has proposed a six-month transition.
But Tinubu’s assertion stated there could be no reduction from sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, of which he serves as chair, till the regime made “positive adjustments.”
“The soldiers’ action is unacceptable. The earlier they make positive adjustments, the quicker we will dial back the sanctions to alleviate the sufferings we are seeing in Niger,” it stated.
The overthrow of Niger’s authorities has triggered concern round West Africa the place Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso have all been taken over by the army since 2020.
Fears of contagion have deepened with this week’s army rebel in Gabon to overthrow President Ali Bongo, toppled moments after being declared winner of a extremely disputed weekend election.
Diplomatic battle
Niger’s new army rulers have additionally been engaged in a political battle with Paris, and stripped France’s ambassador of diplomatic immunity and ordered police to expel him, in accordance with a letter seen Thursday by AFP.
The envoy “no longer enjoys the privileges and immunities attached to his status as member of the diplomatic personnel in the French embassy,” in accordance with their letter, dated Tuesday, to the international ministry in Paris.
Relations with France spiraled downwards after the July coup when Paris stood by Bazoum and refused to acknowledge Niger’s new rulers.
Last Friday, the authorities gave French envoy Sylvain Itte 48 hours to depart the nation.
France refused the demand, saying the army rulers had no authorized proper to make such an order.
French army spokesman Colonel Pierre Gaudilliere on Thursday warned that “the French military forces are ready to respond to any upturn in tension that could harm French diplomatic and military premises in Niger.”
France has round 1,500 troops in Niger, lots of them stationed at an airbase close to the capital, to assist battle a extremist insurgency in Niger.
On Aug. 3, Niger’s new rulers denounced army agreements with France, a transfer that the federal government in Paris has additionally ignored on the grounds of legitimacy.
An group arrange after the coup named the Patriotic Front for Niger Sovereignty (FPS) has led public calls for for the coup leaders to take a tough line.
It is looking for a “massive” march subsequent Saturday on the French base, adopted by a sit-in till the troops go away.
Dispatch of troops
A landlocked former French colony within the coronary heart of the Sahel, Niger is battling two extremist insurgencies – a spill over in southeastern Niger from a long-running battle in neighboring Nigeria, and an offensive within the southwest by militants crossing from Mali and Burkina Faso.
Bazoum got here to workplace in 2021 after democratic elections – a watershed in a rustic that had had no peaceable transition of energy since independence from France in 1960.
He suffered two tried coups earlier than lastly being toppled by members of his personal guard.
ECOWAS responded by warning it might intervene militarily to revive civilian rule if efforts to finish the disaster diplomatically fail.
Swift to help their army comrades in Niger, Mali and Burkina have stated that any such operation could be deemed a “declaration of war” in opposition to them.
Burkina Faso has accepted a draft regulation authorizing the dispatch of troops to Niger, in accordance with a authorities assertion in Ouagadougou on Thursday.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
