The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS has decided to maintain the sanctions it imposed on Niger after the military leader there rejected an offer to release the country’s deposed president in exchange for sanctions being lifted.
On Sunday, ECOWAS leaders met over the crisis in the region after military takeovers in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea since 2020, and two attempted coups elsewhere in recent weeks.
ECOWAS joined local and international partners in calling for the junta to release Mr Bazoum.
His relatives had no information about him since he tried and failed to escape from detention on October 19.
ECOWAS also demanded that the junta shortens its planned transition to civilian rule, which currently stands at three years.
It did not say what would be considered an acceptable transition period.
Military leader’s responseÂ
In a sharp rebuttal, Niger’s military leader Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani told state broadcaster RTN that Mr Bazoum would not be released.
Gen Tchiani did agree to reduce the transition period, but did not say by how much.
In response to the general’s address, ECOWAS on Monday said it would maintain its sanctions on Niger.
However, it said it would create a committee to work with Niger’s junta on establishing a transition roadmap and based on the outcome of those talks, sanctions would gradually be eased.
ECOWAS has repeatedly demanded that Niger’s junta reinstate civilian rule as soon as possible. The bloc has threatened military intervention and suspended all trade ties to the landlocked country, to no avail.
Mr Bazoum, his family, cooks and security tried to escape confinement via helicopter on October 19 , but they were stopped.
Family members say the last time they heard from him was the day before the escape plan.
Since the coup, the relatives have spoken out about the “abusive” treatment they have dealt with at the hands of the new military regime.
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Source: Africafeeds.com
