The Prime Minister appointed by the military who took power in Niger said on Monday that his country had “good hopes of reaching an agreement”, within “a few days”, with the West African states which are brandishing the threat of an armed intervention.
“We have not stopped exchanges with ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States: editor’s note), we are continuing exchanges. We have good hopes of reaching an agreement in a few days,” declared Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, during a press conference in Niamey.
Since the July 26 coup, ECOWAS has maintained a constant position: the military authorities must “immediately restore constitutional order” by releasing ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and reinstating him in office.
The West African organization has repeatedly threatened armed intervention and imposed heavy economic sanctions on Niger.
“We expect at any time to be able to be attacked. All arrangements are made. It would be an unjust war. We are determined to defend ourselves, if ever there is an attack,” Zeine said on Monday.
On Thursday, the President of Nigeria, also at the head of ECOWAS, however opened the door to a possible short transition period.
He cited as an example the nine-month transition that had been implemented in his country in 1999, seeing “no reason why this could not happen again in Niger, if the military authorities are sincere”.
With AFP
