In a national televised address on August 2, General Abdurahmane Tchiani, current military leader of Niger, said that his country will not yield to international pressure to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. He also declared that the sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are illegal and inhumane.
“Nothing will hamper the interim period and the preservation of national sovereignty,” he said. “We are facing external interference, which refuses to recognize our coming to power.”
His statement came in response to the July 30 threat by ECOWAS to impose economic and trade sanctions on Niger, as stated at its summit in Abuja. In line with this decision, Nigeria stopped power supplies to Niger on August 1. The ECOWAS deadline is Aug. 7.
