On Saturday, August 19, amidst heightened tensions, General Tchiani, the leader of the military junta that ousted President Bazoum in July, delivered a televised address.
General Abdourahamane Tchiani sternly cautioned in his televised speech that “ECOWAS is preparing to aggress Niger by setting up an occupation army in collaboration with a foreign military.” He emphasized, without specifying the countries involved, that neither the National Council for the Salvation of the People nor the Nigerien people desire war.
Furthermore, he warned that if there were an attack, “it will not be the walk in the park that some believe it to be.” He also declared that the Nigerien defense forces “will not back down,” with the support of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea.
Additionally, General Tchiani expressed his dissatisfaction with ECOWAS initiatives, considering them an attempt to force his country to accept conditions that run counter to its interests and core values. “They are seeking to isolate our nation at a time when our people more than ever need solidarity to face terrorism and insecurity.”
It’s worth noting that these statements were made in response to the announcement by ECOWAS military leaders of the establishment of an intervention force in Niger.
