Nigeria President proposes nine-month transition for Niger junta

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has floated the idea of a transition back to democracy in neighbouring Niger, similar to the nine-month period his country underwent in the late 1990s.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has imposed sanctions on Niger after troops ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup on July 26 and the bloc threatened military intervention as a last resort if talks fail to restore civilian rule.

In a new statement, the bloc denied any new "proposed transition timeframe" for Niger.

In the statement shared on X, the ECOWAS said, "The demand of the authority of ECOWS Heads of State and Government is clear: the military authorities in Niger must restore constitutional order immediately by liberating and reinstating...President Mohamed Bazoum".

Niger's new military leaders have dug in, saying they want a maximum three-year transition period to restore constitutional order and have ordered police to expel France's envoy as tensions build with a key partner in Niger's fight against insurgency.

Late on Thursday, Niger's interior ministry announced it was stopping UN agencies, NGOs and international organisations from working in military "operation zones".

It did not specify which regions were affected, but said the measures were "due to the current security situation".

"All activities and or movements in the zones of operations are temporarily suspended," it said.

Transition period

Tinubu said Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999 after a nine-month transition period instituted by former military head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who has also headed delegations to meet the Niger junta.

"The president sees no reason why such cannot be replicated in Niger if Niger's military authorities are sincere," the Nigerian presidency said in a statement.

Algeria, Niger's influential northern neighbour, has met with West African leaders in a bid to avoid any military intervention in Niger and has proposed a six-month transition.

But Tinubu's statement said there would be no relief from sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, of which he serves as chair, until the regime made "positive adjustments".

"The soldiers' action is unacceptable. The earlier they make positive adjustments, the quicker we will dial back the sanctions to alleviate the sufferings we are seeing in Niger," it said.

The overthrow of Niger's government has tri ggered concern around West Africa where Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso have all been taken over by the military since 2020.

Fears of contagion have deepened with this week's military rebellion in Gabon to overthrow President Ali Bongo, toppled moments after being declared winner of a highly disputed weekend election.

Diplomatic battle

Niger's new military rulers have also been engaged in a political battle with Paris, and stripped France's ambassador of diplomatic immunity and ordered police to expel him, according to a letter seen by the AFP news agency.

The envoy "no longer enjoys the privileges and immunities attached to his status as member of the diplomatic personnel in the French embassy," according to their letter, dated Tuesday, to the foreign ministry in Paris.

Relations with France spiralled downwards after the July coup when Paris stood by Bazoum and refused to recognise Niger's new rulers.

France refused the demand, saying the military rulers had no legal right to make such an order.

French military spokesman Colonel Pierre Gaudilliere has warned that "the French military forces are ready to respond to any upturn in tension that could harm French diplomatic and military premises in Niger".

France has around 1,500 troops in Niger, many of them stationed at an airbase near the capital, to help fight a jihadist insurgency in Niger.