We Are ready to defend ourselves, Niger junta tells ECOWAS

Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, the leader of the mutineers who took control of the Niger Republic, declared on Saturday that his nation does not desire war but would be prepared to defend itself if required.

The Al Jazeera network paraphrased Tchiani as stating, "Neither the army nor the people of Niger want war, but we will resist any manifestation of it."

He stated that the Economic Community of West African States' member nations are unaware that the Niger is now essential for preventing regional instability in the face of an uptick in terrorist activities.

Tchiani stated that the sanctions imposed on his nation were intended to pressure the rebels rather than resolve the present crisis.

Tchiani said that rebels want to find a solution that serves the needs of the populace rather than assuming control of the nation.

The ousted president Mohamed Bazoum was met by an ECOWAS delegation on Saturday to discuss the circumstances surrounding his arrest, according to reports in the media.

Later in the day, Reuters reported that the delegation also held talks with Tchiani.

On July 26, Niger saw a coup, and Bazoum was overthrown and imprisoned by his own guard, which was headed by Tchiani.

Following the takeover, ECOWAS cut off all financial help to Niger, froze the assets of the rebels, and prohibited commercial flights into and out of the nation.

Early in August, ECOWAS officials decided to create a standby force to perhaps persuade the Nigerien military to restore Bazoum during a conference in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

ECOWAS general staff leaders decided on a start date for the military intervention on Friday, according to ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs Abdel-Fatau Musah, but they would not make the date public.