Niger's military leaders have agreed on a plan for restoring democratic rule which will be presented to regional bloc ECOWAS for approval, Togo's foreign minister Robert Dussey said.
- The Republic of Niger had a coup d'état on July 26, 2023, when Niger's ruling military council, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
- ECOWAS announced its intention to gradually lift sanctions on Niger, contingent on the results of the ongoing discussions.
- Since the coup, regional and international bodies have imposed sanctions on the country, causing strain on its economy.
Dussey engaged in negotiations with the junta on behalf of ECOWAS, advocating for a prompt return to constitutional order following the military coup in July, Reuters reported.
The Republic of Niger had a coup d'état on July 26, 2023, when Niger's ruling military council, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
What the minister said:
"We had an enriching work session with the prime minister and the minister of foreign affairs of Niger. We worked and agreed on the content and timing of the transition," Dussey said on Niger state television late on Thursday.
"We are going to present this to the heads of states who are mediators and the ECOWAS Commission in the hope that in January, the timeline expected by ECOWAS will be known," he said.
However, no additional details were provided on the agreed terms.
ECOWAS, the primary economic and political bloc in West Africa, resolved during a summit in Nigeria on Sunday to establish a committee comprising leaders from Togo, Sierra Leone, and Benin, tasked with engaging the Niger junta to reach an agreement on a concise transition roadmap.
The bloc announced its intention to gradually lift sanctions on Niger, contingent on the results of the ongoing discussions.
A top U.S. diplomat this week said the United States was prepared to resume security and development cooperation with Niger if the junta took steps toward restoring democracy.
Niger since the military take over
Since the coup, regional and international bodies have imposed sanctions on the country, causing strain on its economy.
In October, Niger's budget took a huge 40% hit following its coup and international sanctions. The country's debt also climbed to $8.5 million.
Niger has collaborated with Burkina Faso and Mali to propose the establishment of a confederation, marking a step toward their long-term objective of uniting the West African neighbours within a federation.
Mali and Burkina, ruled by juntas who seized power in coups in 2020 and 2022 respectively, rushed to back Niger's military rulers when they ousted elected president Mohamed Bazoum in July.
