West Africa’s principal regional body, ECOWAS, has turned down a proposition by Niger’s military junta to postpone elections for three years. This refusal prolongs a political deadlock that may prompt military intervention if no resolution emerges following a July coup.
Seeking diplomatic solutions to Niger’s July 26 coup, the seventh in West and Central Africa in three years, ECOWAS and other global powers have engaged in dialogue. However, multiple dialogue attempts have been rebuffed, leading ECOWAS to activate a regional force prepared for deployment if negotiations falter.
Strengthening this stance, ECOWAS reiterated its position one day before the junta eventually agreed to meet with an ECOWAS delegation in Niamey, indicating a newfound willingness to cooperate.
In a televised address, junta leader General Abdourahamane Tiani expressed openness to dialogue but proposed a three-year transition back to democracy, echoing the prolonged timelines advocated by other coup leaders in the region.
ECOWAS Commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah clarified the bloc’s stance, urging the release of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and a prompt restoration of constitutional order. Musah mentioned ongoing informal discussions that would influence whether ECOWAS would send a further mediation mission to Niger.
As a series of coups has undermined democracy in the region, ECOWAS’s reputation is at stake, casting doubt on its influence as junta leaders cling to power. The bloc has clashed with other military administrations seeking years of preparation before holding elections.
Mali faced ECOWAS sanctions last year when interim authorities failed to arrange promised elections, with sanctions lifted only after agreeing to a new 2024 deadline. Burkina Faso has also committed to reinstating civilian rule next year, while Guinea condensed its transition timeline to 24 months last year under ECOWAS pressure.
Niger, already subject to various international sanctions since the coup, including those from ECOWAS, faces economic strain in one of the world’s poorest nations.
