ECOWAS opposes Niger's three-year transition period

  The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has rejected Niger's military administration's proposal to hold elections within three years, escalating a political crisis that could lead to military intervention if no agreement is reached following the July coup. . The ECOWAS community and other powerful and influential mediators have been looking for diplomatic solutions to the July 26 revolution in Niger, which is the seventh in the West and Central African region, in three years. But after several efforts failed, the community - which has taken a tougher stance on Niger than its military-led neighbors - set up a regional force that military chiefs have said is ready to be deployed to the country if talks fail.

In his address to the nation on television on Saturday evening, the leader of the military government, General Abdourahamane Tiani, said the leaders of the revolution are still ready for talks. Militants who staged a coup in Niger ECOWAS Commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah told Reuters on Monday that the community's position is still clear, that constitutional rule must be restored immediately, and that the ousted leader, Mohamed Bazoum, be freed. Meanwhile, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Niger's capital to declare their support for the country's military leaders, who seized power from pro-Western officials in a coup last month.