The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis has made a case for a diplomatic solution to a political crisis in Niger which is coming against the backdrop of a coup that threatens stability in the entire region.
While addressing the faithful in St Peter’s Square after his Angelus prayer yesterday; Pope Francis said; ‘I am following with concern what is happening in Niger, and join the bishops’ call in favour of peace in the country and stability in the Sahel’.
“I join with prayer the efforts of the international community to find a peaceful solution as soon as possible for the good of everyone,” said the 86-year-old.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that army officers ousted President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, making Niger the fourth West African nation to suffer a coup since 2020.
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Meanwhile, Niger’s new military ruler said Saturday a transition of power would not go beyond three years, and warned that any attack on the country would not be easy for those involved.
‘Our ambition is not to confiscate power,’ General Abdourahamane Tiani said in a televised address. Any transition of power “would not go beyond three years’, he said.
But he added: ‘If an attack were to be undertaken against us, it will not be the walk in the park some people seem to think.’
He also said: ‘ECOWAS is getting ready to attack Niger by setting up an occupying army in collaboration with a foreign army,’ without saying which country he meant.
In another report, Nigeria’s former Military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar has opened up on what the ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum told the delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during their visit on Saturday.
Bazoum spoke to the delegation about the challenges he has faced since he was detained by the military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani.
Africa Today News, New York reports that Abdulsalami had on Saturday led a high-powered delegation of the ECOWAS to the troubled West African nation.
The delegation held a meeting with Prime Minister Ali Zeine who received them at the airport and led them to the presidential palace.