2023-08-03 00:55:44
General Abdourahamane Tiani, leader of the Nigerien coup junta, said in a speech on Wednesday that he rejects the “unfair and inhumane” sanctions imposed by West African countries against Niger and warned that he will not give in to the threat of military intervention.
In his second public appearance after the coup d’état on July 26, carried out by a self-proclaimed junta National Committee for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP), Tiani addressed the nation on Wednesday night in a televised speech. on the occasion of Independence Day, which is celebrated on Thursday.
The general devoted a part of his speech to condemning the economic and financial sanctions approved against Niger by the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which were greeted, he said, with “astonishment” by Nigeriens for being “illegal, unfair and inhumane”.
He also criticized the “bellicose attitude” of Cedeao, which last Sunday gave the coup junta a week to restore constitutional order without ruling out military intervention if it failed to do so.
“The CNSP rejects these sanctions en bloc and refuses to give in to any threat,” said Tiani, for whom neighboring countries seek to “humiliate” Niger and “have not taken into account the sovereignty” of the country. “We reject any interference in the internal affairs of Niger,” she added.
For the general, the coup has the support of the Nigerien people and “the opposition comes mainly from some individuals who believe they have a particular right over the Nigerien State and who are allied with some lobis and foreign powers.”
And, above all, he added, “from some heads of state of our subregion who are using our community institutions for selfish and lobbyist purposes.”
“This hostile and radical attitude,” he added, does not provide solutions for the fight against terrorism in the regionbut rather “creates mistrust between partners”.
Regarding the future, Tiani affirmed that, “once the emotions of each other have passed,” the CNSP aspires to “create the conditions for a calm transition before carrying out, in a short and reasonable period, general elections.”
He will do so, he said, “aware of the seriousness that Niger is experiencing and “open to dialogue.”
Tiani also referred to France, without naming it, when criticizing its “overreaction” in the assault suffered by the French embassy in Niamey last Sunday during a pro-coup demonstration.
After the incident, in which protesters tried to enter the embassy, the French government stated in a statement that it would respond “immediately and decisively” in the event of an attack on its interests.
The general stated in his speech that he was surprised that “a partner country” threatens “to resort to force to protect its citizens, its diplomatic representatives and its interests in Niger, which have never been the object of any threat.”
As well as “a government ordering the use of military force against the Nigerien population to protect its citizens“, in reference to the response of the French forces to the attack.
#Niger #Coup #Leader #Rejects #Sanctions #warns #military #intervention