Niger's military leadership has reached an agreement outlining a plan to restore democratic governance, as revealed by Togo's foreign minister, Robert Dussey. The plan, designed to facilitate the return to constitutional order, will be submitted to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for endorsement.
Dussey, representing ECOWAS, engaged in negotiations with Niger's military-installed authorities, aiming to expedite the transition process following the military coup in July.
"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 in a press conference, standing next to his Nigerien counterpart. "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."
Although specific details of the agreement were not disclosed, ECOWAS, a major political and economic power in West Africa, recently established a committee comprising leaders from Togo, Sierra Leone, and Benin.
The committee's mandate involves engaging with the Niger junta to develop a concise transition roadmap. ECOWAS further stated its intent to gradually alleviate sanctions against Niger, contingent upon the outcomes of these deliberations.
In late August, Niger's coup leader, General Abdrahamane Tiani, vowed to restore civilian rule in the country within three years. Niger's regional authorities supported the military-led transition.
Following the takeover, the country announced the annulment of all security and military agreements with the former colonizer, France, and demanded the withdrawal of the French troops from its soil.