In response to mounting intelligence indicating an imminent assault by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), General Tchiani, the leader of the Nigerien junta, has been reported to have orchestrated the evacuation of his family from the country.
The act has sparked accusations that he is forsaking his people and their safety while prioritizing the protection of his own kin.
Reports suggest that members of the Niger junta have initiated a move to relocate their families to Burkina Faso and Dubai.
This action reportedly carried out at Agadez Airport, involved the use of Gulfstream G550 jets. Sources with knowledge of the operation disclosed that the evacuation took place on the night of August 11th to August 12th, 2023.
Multiple Gulfstream G550 aircraft, notably flight BFY824R, departed from Agadez Airport with families of the junta members onboard, heading towards Burkina Faso and Dubai.
The source further revealed, “General Tchiani appears to have had intelligence of an imminent attack by ECOWAS. He protects his family and leaves the Nigerien people behind to a certain death.
While he shelters his family, Tchiani is ready to send soldiers into a fratricidal war. Like any selfish and totalitarian putschist, he already uses state finances for personal purposes.
It is at the expense of the Nigerien state that he sends his family to live luxuriously under the Dubai sun. The junta does not hesitate a moment to set Niger ablaze while preparing a golden exit in Dubai.”
Meanwhile, ECOWAS has signaled its readiness to intervene militarily in Niger Republic if diplomatic efforts fail to persuade the ruling military junta, which ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup on July 26, to reinstate democratic governance.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, conveyed this stance during a meeting of West African defense chiefs in Ghana.
Musah stressed that ECOWAS is committed to restoring constitutional order in Niger through all available means.
In light of the crisis, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, emphasized the importance of democracy and stability in the region, noting that the meeting aimed to proactively navigate towards peace.
The August 6 deadline for the mutinous soldiers to release and reinstate President Bazoum has passed without compliance, prompting heightened concern.
While ECOWAS has considered the option of military intervention as a “last resort,” tensions have emerged among its member nations over this matter.
As the situation unfolds, regional stability remains in the balance, with the African Union’s Peace and Security Council yet to make a definitive decision on the potential military intervention.
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