Joe Ogini
Nigeriens thronged the streets of Niamey, the capital of Niger , on Sunday, in their numbers to express their support to the juntas who took over the reigns of government on July, 26, 2023 through a coup detat.
Their demonstration came against the backdrop of ECOWAS’ insistence on invading the country to rout out coupists should diplomacy fail to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to power.
The demonstration came after talks between ECOWAS delegation, led by former Head of State, Abdusallami, Abubakar, retd, and the head of the junta, Abdourahhamane Tchiani, in Niamey on Saturday, failed to yield positive result.
The demonstrators chanted slogans hostile to former colonial power, France and especially ECOWAS, which is considering a potential military operation to reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum if ongoing negotiations with coup leaders fail.
Reports say that at the meeting, the junta had refused ECOWAS plan of restoring democracy by returning Bazoum to power, but had instead, promised on its own timetable of returning the country to democracy in the next three years. A proposal that is unacceptable to ECOWAS.
It will be recalled that on July, 26, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, had led a coup in Niger which ousted the democratically elected government of Mohammed Bazoum.
Already, there are reports of deep divisions within the presidential guard, which ousted President Bazoum, saying should ECOWAS launch an attack on Niger Republic, the majority of soldiers in the presidential complex would flee.
This is coming just as Pope Francis, Sunday, pleaded for calm on all sides and a diplomatic solution to the political crisis.
