“Our ambition is not to confiscate power”, assured, on Saturday August 19, the new strongman of Niger, General Abdourahamane Tiani, who arrived at the head of the country by a coup d’etat on July 26. He also asserted that the transition period “cannot exceed three years”.
He then warned foreign countries against military intervention targeting his country. “If an aggression were to be undertaken against us, it will not be the walk in the park that some believe in,” he said, the day after a decision by the Economic Community of East African States West (ECOWAS) saying it is ready for armed intervention.
During his speech, which lasted about twelve minutes, he also announced the launch of a “national dialogue”, which has thirty days to formulate “concrete proposals” with a view to laying “the foundations of a new constitutional life”.
This speech comes after the visit, earlier in the day, of an ECOWAS delegation to seek a peaceful solution to the crisis. “ECOWAS is preparing to attack Niger by setting up an army of occupation in collaboration with a foreign army,” General Tiani continued without naming countries.
