Ecowas demands shorter transition period from Niger junta
8 min read
General Abdulsalami Abubakar and Niger junta leader
The Economic Community of West African States has demanded a shorter transition from the junta in Niger.
The Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Tinubu, told the Ulamas during a meeting with them on Thursday that the three-year transition proposed by the military leaders was unacceptable to the regional body.
A member of the Islamic clerics who met with the President, the National Missioner, Ansar-udeen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdulrahman Ahmad, disclosed this to The PUNCH in a phone interview on Saturday.
The Ulamas had held a meeting with the Niger junta in a bid to avert military intervention to restore democracy in the francophone country as planned by the ECOWAS.
During their interface, the junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, had indicated an interest in holding a dialogue to resolve the political impasse resulting from the ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum in the July 26 coup.
They also asked the Ulamas to prevail on Tinubu to restore electricity which was cut off from Niger as part of sanctions imposed by ECOWAS.
Speaking to our correspondent on the outcome of their meeting with the President, Ahmad, who is the spokesperson for the Ulamas, explained that Tinubu insisted that the military leaders must give specifics of their transition programme which must also be brief.
He said, “What we did Thursday was to brief him (ECOWAS chairman) on the outcome of our visit. The reason he has asked us to go back is that he wants specifics from the junta. That was what he said; their response was too open-ended and he could not hold that. That is why he asked us to go back.
“The President wants specifics that what he (head of the junta) had said is too general; they want to be able to hold them to a timeline and the commitment and the specifics of the short time of transition.”
On when the delegation would return to Niamey, the cleric said, “We are deliberating on when it will be convenient for members to go back and when it will be convenient for the people we are going to meet to receive us.
“We are still deliberating on when to go back, so we haven’t fixed a date yet. The point is that we have stated it time and time again, over and over, that we are not a government delegation as such.
“The vision to intervene was a private initiative of the Ulamas and it is not a committee set up by the government. We are only trying to facilitate peaceful resolution with regard to the conflict without the need for the use of force.
“So, to that extent, we sought the permission of the President because it is not something we can do on our own, basically with another country. The President granted the permission, and then we began and of course, our President is the chairman of ECOWAS and we briefed him each time we visited the Nigerien people. But basically, it’s is about the convenience of members of the delegation, and then we will reconvene and then we go.’’
The Presidency could not be reached for comment on Sunday as Tinubu’s media adviser, Ajuri Ngelari, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking confirmation of Ahmad’s statement that Tinubu was seeking the specifics of the junta’s transition programme.
But the President during his discussion with the clerics led by Sheikh Bala Lau at the State House in Abuja, emphasized that he was at the forefront of a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
“I am managing a very serious situation. If you take ECOWAS aside, other people will react, those who are outside of our control. I am the one holding those sides back. I am the one holding back ECOWAS,” he disclosed.
Addressing the urgency of the situation, the President said: “Even as at this morning, I have been inundated with phone calls on the readiness of countries with their military force and contributions. However, I told them to wait. I am meeting with the Ulamas and I will get back to you.”
Tinubu told the Islamic delegation that the military junta must be held accountable for putting the entire people of the Niger Republic in jeopardy.
“They cannot use the gun given to them to protect the sovereignty of the country and turn it against.
The Economic Community of West African States has demanded a shorter transition from the junta in Niger.
The Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Tinubu, told the Ulamas during a meeting with them on Thursday that the three-year transition proposed by the military leaders was unacceptable to the regional body.
A member of the Islamic clerics who met with the President, the National Missioner, Ansar-udeen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdulrahman Ahmad, disclosed this to The PUNCH in a phone interview on Saturday.
The Ulamas had held a meeting with the Niger junta in a bid to avert military intervention to restore democracy in the francophone country as planned by the ECOWAS.
During their interface, the junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, had indicated an interest in holding a dialogue to resolve the political impasse resulting from the ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum in the July 26 coup.
They also asked the Ulamas to prevail on Tinubu to restore electricity which was cut off from Niger as part of sanctions imposed by ECOWAS.
Speaking to our correspondent on the outcome of their meeting with the President, Ahmad, who is the spokesperson for the Ulamas, explained that Tinubu insisted that the military leaders must give specifics of their transition programme which must also be brief.
He said, “What we did Thursday was to brief him (ECOWAS chairman) on the outcome of our visit. The reason he has asked us to go back is that he wants specifics from the junta. That was what he said; their response was too open-ended and he could not hold that. That is why he asked us to go back.
“The President wants specifics that what he (head of the junta) had said is too general; they want to be able to hold them to a timeline and the commitment and the specifics of the short time of transition.”
On when the delegation would return to Niamey, the cleric said, “We are deliberating on when it will be convenient for members to go back and when it will be convenient for the people we are going to meet to receive us.
“We are still deliberating on when to go back, so we haven’t fixed a date yet. The point is that we have stated it time and time again, over and over, that we are not a government delegation as such.
“The vision to intervene was a private initiative of the Ulamas and it is not a committee set up by the government. We are only trying to facilitate peaceful resolution with regard to the conflict without the need for the use of force.
“So, to that extent, we sought the permission of the President because it is not something we can do on our own, basically with another country. The President granted the permission, and then we began and of course, our President is the chairman of ECOWAS and we briefed him each time we visited the Nigerien people. But basically, it’s is about the convenience of members of the delegation, and then we will reconvene and then we go.’’
The Presidency could not be reached for comment on Sunday as Tinubu’s media adviser, Ajuri Ngelari, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking confirmation of Ahmad’s statement that Tinubu was seeking the specifics of the junta’s transition programme.
But the President during his discussion with the clerics led by Sheikh Bala Lau at the State House in Abuja, emphasized that he was at the forefront of a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
“I am managing a very serious situation. If you take ECOWAS aside, other people will react, those who are outside of our control. I am the one holding those sides back. I am the one holding back ECOWAS,” he disclosed.
Addressing the urgency of the situation, the President said: “Even as at this morning, I have been inundated with phone calls on the readiness of countries with their military force and contributions. However, I told them to wait. I am meeting with the Ulamas and I will get back to you.”
Tinubu told the Islamic delegation that the military junta must be held accountable for putting the entire people of the Niger Republic in jeopardy.
“They cannot use the gun given to them to protect the sovereignty of the country and turn it against.
Niger: Ecowas capitulates, demands shorter transition period from coupists
Reality could be dawning on the Economic Community of West African States—ECOWAS, following it’s appeal to the junta government in Niger for a swifter transition to constitutional democracy.
The chairperson of ECOWAS, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, conveyed the bloc’s stance to the Ulamas during a meeting on Thursday. The military leaders’ proposal of a three-year transition was deemed unsatisfactory by ECOWAS.
Tinubu told the Islamic delegation that the coupists must be answerable for endangering the entire population of the Niger Republic.
“They cannot wield the gun entrusted to them for safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and then turn it against it.”
According to PUNCH, Sheikh Abdulrahman Ahmad, a representative of the Islamic clerics who met with President Tinubu, revealed this information.
The Ulamas convened with the Niger junta to avoid military intervention aimed at restoring democracy in the former French colony, a plan endorsed by ECOWAS.
During their interaction, the junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue to address the political face-off arising from the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum in the July 26 coup.
Additionally, the Ulamas were asked to appeal to Tinubu to restore electricity, which had been cut off from Niger due to ECOWAS sanctions.
Ahmad, acting as the Ulamas’ spokesman, explained the outcome of their meeting with the President. Tinubu emphasized the necessity for military leaders to provide concrete details of their transition plan, which should also be concise.
He stated, “Our purpose on Thursday was to inform him (ECOWAS chairman) about the results of our visit. He requested us to return because he needs specifics from the junta. He found their response too vague and was not satisfied with that. This is why he instructed us to return.”
“The President desires clear specifics. The junta leader’s statements were too broad. They want to establish a timeline, commitments, and precise details about the short transition period.”
Regarding their next visit to Niamey, the cleric remarked, “We are deliberating on the most suitable time for our members to go back and when it would be convenient for the recipients to receive us.”
“We have yet to set a date for our return. It’s important to note that we are not an official government delegation. The initiative to intervene came from the Ulamas privately. It is not a government-established committee. We strive to facilitate a peaceful resolution for the conflict without force.”
“We sought the President’s permission because this isn’t something we can undertake independently, especially with another country involved. The President permitted us. He is the ECOWAS chairman, and we kept him informed each time we met with the Nigerien people. But it primarily hinges on our delegation’s convenience. We will regroup, and then we will proceed.”
