By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Military junta in landlocked Niger says it requires at least three years in office before handing over powers to civilian authorities following the ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum last month.
In televised broadcast on Saturday night leader of the military junta, General Abdourahamane Tchiani assured that a committee to study and form a new constitution for the country would be set up in coming months.
Tchiani spoke after a meeting with a delegation of regional bloc, the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) led by a former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd).
The former head of the presidential guards unit of the military said the junta is open for further consultations and negotiations.
While underlining the country’s readiness to defend itself against external forces, Tchiani said that Sahel country is not prepared for war.
ECOWAS had threatened a military action in an effort to reinstate the deposed Bazoum who since July 26 has remained in detention at the presidential palace along with family members.
The regional defence chiefs had after a meeting in Ghana this week expressed readiness to invade Niger if negotiations fail.
The chairman of ECOWAS, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu had on Friday warned of impending “grave consequences” should the military rulers of Niger allow Bazoum’s health to deteriorate while under house arrest.
The ousted Bazoum would be safe and unharmed, Niger’s military-appointed prime minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine assured.
Lamine Zeine told The New York Times that, “Nothing will happen to him, because we don’t have a tradition of violence in Niger.”
Thousands of volunteers turned out in central Niamey on Saturday answering a call to register as civilian auxiliaries who could be mobilised to support the army, Radio France had reported.
