(Reuters) – Algeria’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf announced on Tuesday that Algeria is proposing a solution to the political crisis in neighboring Niger. The proposal includes a six-month transition period led by a civilian. Attaf revealed that during recent discussions with West African states, there was a consensus against military intervention to resolve the crisis.
Last week, army chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met in Ghana to discuss the possibility of military intervention in Niger. This comes after members of the presidential guard in Niger seized power and established a junta. However, Algeria has consistently expressed its opposition to military intervention, citing the post-NATO intervention chaos in Libya in 2011 as an example.
According to Attaf, Algerian officials have held three separate conversations with the military leader in Niger since the coup. The military leader has expressed a desire for a transitional period that could last up to three years.
Algeria’s proposed initiative includes calling for a United Nations conference to restore constitutional order, suggesting guarantees for all parties involved in the crisis, and hosting a conference on development in the Sahel region. However, further details regarding these proposals were not provided.
Algerian state television reported last week that President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had denied France permission for a potential military operation in Niger. France, on the other hand, denied seeking any such permission.
Reporting by Lamine Chikhi, writing by Angus McDowall, editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Alex Richardson
Credit: The Star : News Feed
