Niger Coup: War is still on the table - Ngelale reiterates President Tinubu's position

Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale has reiterated that President Bola Tinubu, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State of Governments is not rushing into a war in Niger saying that the regional body is still open to dialogue.

He made the comment when he appeared on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily on Monday, August 28.

According to him, President Tinubu's position is the position of the regional body that want nothing but a restoration of the constitutional order on Niger Republic.

"Ofcourse our president is the chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State of Governments and his position is the consensus position of ECOWAS. All of the ECOWAS agreeing to the common position and consensus that all options must remain on the table to ensure there is a restoration of the constitutional order on Niger Republic," he said.

"The position is that military intervention is not something that our feet are running into. It is not something that we are going to wake up in the morning and declare war on our neighbor. But it is something that is on the table, a means of last resort. The president has been open to the fact that this is a means of last resort and not the next step."

Recall Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani, Niger's coup leader, last week pledged to return the West African nation to civilian rule within three years.

He made the announcement after meeting mediators from the West African regional bloc ECOWAS in the capital, Niamey.

ECOWAS has threatened military action to reverse last month's overthrow of President Bazoum if talks fail.

The junta head said that Niger did not want a war, but would defend itself against any foreign intervention.

"If an attack were to be undertaken against us, it will not be the walk in the park some people seem to think," he warned.

Gen Tchiani also reiterated criticism of what he called the "illegal and inhumane" sanctions imposed by ECOWAS on the landlocked impoverished country.

This has included cutting electricity, resulting in blackouts in Niamey and other major cities, as well as blocking crucial imports.

Lorry drivers have been stuck for weeks waiting to bring in supplies, forcing up food prices.

ECOWAS rejected the three-year timeframe after talks on Sunday.

"ECOWAS is not accepting any prolonged transition again in the region. They just have to get ready to hand over in the shortest possible time," Abdel-Fatau Musah, the bloc's commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, told the BBC.

He said the "military aspect is very much on".

NBA