Ex-Niger FM sees no alternative to military intervention in country
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Niger's former foreign minister official rejects General Abdourahamane Tchiani's 3-year transitional period proposal, calling it a strategy to legitimize the coup.
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Members of Niger's military junta is greeted by pro-coup supporters in Niamey, Niger, August 6, 2023. (AFP)
The exiled foreign minister of Niger, Hassoumi Massaoudou, claimed on Tuesday that he sees "no alternative" to a military intervention in Niger to fend off the current military leadership, because any transitional timeframe would mean legitimizing the coup.
He told Italy's la Repubblica newspaper: "The junta has closed the door to any attempt to negotiate after the address where Gen. [Abdourahamane] Tchiani [who proclaimed himself Niger's new leader] announced a three-year transition period immediately after the visit by mediators from ECOWAS [the Economic Community of West African States]."
He added: "That is why there is no alternative to a military option that is the only one that will help to save Niger and stabilize the region. I would call a military operation a police intervention rather than a war against Niger".
Speaking of transition, the ECOWAS rejected a call on Monday by Niger's coup leaders to launch a three-year transition back to democracy. ECOWAS Commissioner for politics and security Abdel-Fatau Musah described the proposal of a three-year transition as "a joke" and said the bloc would "never accept it."
"We want constitutional order to be restored as soon as possible," he said on Monday. "Military action is not off the table," he said.
Read more: New US envoy arrives in Niger, no policy change yet: State Dept
This comes even after the ECOWAS left Niger on Sunday after failing to reach an agreement with the new military leadership, the Al Arabiya broadcaster reported, citing sources close to the matter.
Time is ticking as the ECOWAS has set a 'D-Day' for the possible military intervention in Niger, aimed at allegedly "restoring democracy" in Niger, according to Abdel-Fatau Musah. However, a specific date has not been released yet.
Niger already opened military recruitment centers for volunteers last Saturday in an effort to amp up the army ahead of a possible intervention by ECOWAS, and Burkina Faso released a statement the same day that the country is preparing for a possible military intervention in Niger and is readying to support Niger.
"We anticipate aggression [of ECOWAS forces against Niger]. In any case, the head of our state [Ibrahim Traore] said that we are ready for the aggression, we support Niger," Coulibaly expressed, adding that his country is even willing to withdraw from ECOWAS considering the association's policy towards Niger as unreasonable.
