By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Arising from national dialogue, a commission in Niger’s military junta has recommended a minimum five-year transition period to democratic rule, officials announced on Thursday.
“The duration of the transition is set at 60 months, which may change depending on the security situation and other factors,” Abdoulaye Seydou, one of the commission’s vice presidents, said on state TV.
The military junta, after the 2023 coup in which President Mohamed Bazoum was deposed, had initially proposed a three-year timeline for a transition back to civilian rule.
However, this was rejected by the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
In addition to the five-year transition plan, the commission also elevated the junta leader, Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tiani, who was in charge of Niger’s presidential guard before the coup to the rank of army general, Seydou said.
The president of the commission, Mamoudou Harouna Djingarey, said political parties would be dissolved, with a new charter allowing for two to five political parties to seek election.
He also stated that junta officials would be eligible to participate in future elections if they so wished.
The commission consulted with more than 700 delegates, including lawyers, architects, and teachers, but political parties did not participate in the consultations.
Its report will be officially presented to the junta, which will make the final decision on the transition timeline.
Following political disagreements, Niger and its neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso decided to leave ECOWAS to form a new security and economic pact, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
