The objective is to set up a system like the one that was used in Nigeria at the end of the 1990s. The president of this country, Bola Tinubu, also at the head of the Economic Community of East African States West (ECOWAS), spoke on Thursday of a nine-month transition for the military in power since the end of July in Niger.
“The President sees no reason why this cannot happen again in Niger, if the military authorities in Niger are sincere”, reports a press release from the Nigerian presidency. Bola Tinubu recalled that Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999 after a nine-month transition period instituted by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who inherited military power on the death of General Sani Abacha.
The lifting of sanctions only in the event of “positive adjustments”
Abdulsalami Abubakar traveled to Niger on August 19 at the head of an ECOWAS delegation. That same evening, the new strongman in Niamey, General Abdourahamane Tiani, announced a transition period of a maximum of three years and warned foreign countries against a possible military intervention. ECOWAS has said it is ready to use force to restore constitutional order in Niger.
The Nigerian president also warned on Thursday that the sanctions imposed on Niger by ECOWAS would not be eased without “positive adjustments” by the military in Niamey. “The actions of the military are unacceptable. The sooner they make positive adjustments, the sooner we will reverse the sanctions to alleviate the suffering we see in Niger,” he said.