In a televised broadcast on Saturday night, leader of the Niger Junta, General Abdourahamane Tchiani promised to hand over to a civilian government within the next three years.
The Niger Junta spoke after meeting with a delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) led by the former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd).
Tchiani stated that the junta would, within a month, form a committee to study and form the new constitution of the country.
While stating that Niger does not want to go to war, the general stated that the country will defend itself if necessary.
He did, however, say that the door was still open for dialogue.
ECOWAS has yet to respond to the junta leader’s statement, but Abdulsalami is scheduled to brief the regional bloc on the meeting’s outcome.
Meanwhile, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, the military-appointed prime minister, stated that deposed President Mohamed Bazoum would be safe and unharmed.
Chronicle NG reports that President Bola Tinubu warned on Friday of impending “grave consequences” should the military rulers allow Bazoum’s health to deteriorate while under house arrest.
