Nigerian Foreign Minister Bakary Seydou Sangaré makes a statement calling for the withdrawal of French soldiers in Niamey on October 1, 2023. STRINGER/Portal
Niger has accepted mediation from Algeria, which is offering “a six-month transition plan” to the military that has seized power in this West African country, the Algerian Foreign Ministry said on Monday, October 2.
“The Algerian government, through the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has received approval for Algerian mediation to promote a political solution to the crisis in Niger,” said a press release from the Algerian ministry.
The Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, instructed the head of diplomacy, Ahmed Attaf, “to travel to Niamey as soon as possible to start talks (…) with all parties involved,” according to this press release.
At the end of August, Algiers had proposed political discussions “for a maximum of six months (…) with the participation and consent of all parties in Niger, without exclusion”, under the supervision of a “civil authority headed by a consensus and…” from all sides of the political class” to lead to the “restoration of constitutional order in the country”.
Algiers appreciated that “the acceptance of the Algerian initiative is comforting.”[ait] the option of a political solution to this crisis and open[ait] the path to fulfilling the conditions that enable a peaceful settlement in the interests of Niger and the entire region,” the Algerian Foreign Ministry added.
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“Restoration of constitutional order”
Until the Algerian announcement, the generals in power in Niamey had not responded to the proposals made to them for a limited transition period. Their only speech on the subject came on August 19, when the country’s new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tiani, announced that he wanted a transition of a maximum of three years.
Following the July 26 overthrow of Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum, elected in 2021, ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), with the support of several Western countries, announced on August 10 its intention to deploy a West African force “to restore constitutional order in Niger.” “.
Since then, the standoff between the two parties has dragged on, but President Tebboune announced on August 6 that he “categorically rejects any military intervention” from outside Niger, which he said would pose “a direct threat to Algeria.” .
The Nigerian military regime has also been in another standoff with France since the coup, with Paris not recognizing the new authorities in Niger.
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On September 24, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the withdrawal of 1,500 French soldiers from Niger by the end of the year and the return to Paris of the ambassador to Niamey, Sylvain Itté, two demands of the military in power.
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