Algeria sends envoy to Niger for talks on coup crisis
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Transcript
00:00 And Algeria said that it sent an envoy to Niger
00:02 to help with diplomatic talks with the country's junta.
00:05 Regional bloc, ECOWAS, has been trying to negotiate a way
00:08 forward in the wake of the military takeover
00:10 last month that ousted President Mohamed Bouzoum.
00:14 ECOWAS has also threatened force as a last resort
00:17 and may be growing frustrated with talks
00:19 after rejecting soldiers' proposed three-year timeline
00:23 for a transition back to democracy.
00:25 Sam Mednic brings us more from Niamey.
00:29 There is currently a standoff between West African regional
00:32 bloc, known as ECOWAS, and Niger's new military leaders.
00:35 The junta said that they are not going anywhere.
00:38 They have appointed a new government
00:39 and they have given a three-year transitional timeline
00:42 to restore constitutional order.
00:44 ECOWAS has said that three years is way too much.
00:46 They've rejected that and have called it provocative.
00:49 While ECOWAS says diplomatic channels are still open,
00:52 they say they are not going to wait forever
00:54 and they have threatened the use of military force
00:57 if constitutional order is not reinstated.
01:00 They have said that right now the ball is in the junta's court.
01:04 Meanwhile, some soldiers say that divisions
01:06 are starting to show within the junta,
01:09 as well as within the presidential guard,
01:10 the unit that overthrew President Mohamed Bouzoum.
01:13 Some soldiers say that if there was a military intervention,
01:16 it's unclear if the soldiers would stick around and fight
01:19 for the junta or if they might flee.
01:22 Sahel experts say that the ECOWAS
01:25 is counting on this external pressure from the sanctions
01:28 that have been imposed, economic as well as travel sanctions,
01:31 as well as these internal divisions and pressure,
01:34 to force the junta's hand.