Niger’s military leader has refused to release the country’s deposed president in exchange for sanctions
being lifted.

Ecowas – an alliance of West African countries – made the offer after a summit on Sunday.
It has demanded the release of Mohamed Bazoum several times since he was put under house arrest in
late July. His relatives said they have had no information about him since he tried and failed to escape from detention on 19 October.

On Sunday, the alliance once again joined local and international partners in calling for the junta to
release Mr Bazoum. It also demanded the junta shorten its planned transition to civilian rule, which currently stands at three years.

Later in the day, Niger military leader Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani told state broadcaster RTN that Mr
Bazoum would not be released. Gen Tchiani did agree to reduce the transition period but did not say by how much. In response to the general’s address, Ecowas on Monday said it would maintain its sanctions on Niger.

However, it said it would create a committee to work with Niger’s junta on establishing a transition
roadmap and based on the outcome of those talks, sanctions would gradually be eased.