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West Africa's ECOWAS Rejects Niger Junta's Proposed Three-year Delay for Elections

A supporter of Niger's National Council of Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) holds a placard of Niger's new military ruler, General Abdourahamane Tiani, as they gather at Place de la Concertation in Niamey on August 20, 2023. (Photo by AFP)
A supporter of Niger's National Council of Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) holds a placard of Niger's new military ruler, General Abdourahamane Tiani, as they gather at Place de la Concertation in Niamey on August 20, 2023. (Photo by AFP)
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West Africa's ECOWAS Rejects Niger Junta's Proposed Three-year Delay for Elections

A supporter of Niger's National Council of Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) holds a placard of Niger's new military ruler, General Abdourahamane Tiani, as they gather at Place de la Concertation in Niamey on August 20, 2023. (Photo by AFP)
A supporter of Niger's National Council of Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) holds a placard of Niger's new military ruler, General Abdourahamane Tiani, as they gather at Place de la Concertation in Niamey on August 20, 2023. (Photo by AFP)

West Africa's main regional bloc, ECOWAS, has rejected a proposal by Niger's military junta to hold elections within three years, extending a political impasse that could trigger a military intervention if no agreement is reached following a July coup.
ECOWAS and other international powers have been seeking diplomatic solutions to the July 26 putsch in Niger, the seventh in West and Central Africa in three years, said Reuters.
But after several attempts for dialogue were rejected, the bloc - which has taken a harder stance on Niger than its junta-led neighbors - activated a regional force that military heads have said is ready to deploy if talks fail.
It doubled down on its threat on Friday, one day before the junta eventually agreed to meet an ECOWAS delegation in the capital Niamey, suggesting a new willingness to cooperate.
In a televised address to the nation on Saturday evening, junta leader General Abdourahamane Tiani said coup leaders remained open to dialogue.
But he also said the junta would consult on a transition back to democracy within three years, echoing lengthy timelines proposed by other coup leaders in the region.
ECOWAS Commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah told Reuters on Monday that the bloc's position remained clear.
"Release Bazoum without preconditions, restore constitutional order without further delay," he said, referring to Niger's ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum. He spoke via WhatsApp in response to a query about the proposed elections delay.
The outcome of "ongoing informal discussions" would determine whether ECOWAS would send another mediation mission to Niger, he added.
The bloc's reputation has been at stake since the recent string of coups eroded democracy in the region, raising doubts over its sway as junta leaders have clung to power. It has butted heads with other military governments requesting several years of preparation to hold elections.
ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Mali last year after interim authorities failed to organize promised polls, lifting them only after a new 2024 deadline was agreed.
Burkina Faso has also agreed to restore civilian rule next year, while Guinea shortened its transition timeline to 24 months last week following pressure by ECOWAS.
Niger has already been hit with a flurry of international sanctions since the coup, including from ECOWAS, piling economic pressure on one of the world's poorest countries.

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US Flies Long-Range Bomber for Drill with South Korea as North Marks Key State Anniversary 

In this photo, provided by South Korea Air Force, two US Air Force B-1B bomber, top left, fly over the Korean Peninsula with South Korean Air Force F-35A fighter jet, F-16 fighter jets and US Air Force F-16 fighter jets in South Korea during the joint aerial drills of South Korea and the United States, at an undisclosed location in South Korea, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (South Korea Air Force via AP)
In this photo, provided by South Korea Air Force, two US Air Force B-1B bomber, top left, fly over the Korean Peninsula with South Korean Air Force F-35A fighter jet, F-16 fighter jets and US Air Force F-16 fighter jets in South Korea during the joint aerial drills of South Korea and the United States, at an undisclosed location in South Korea, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (South Korea Air Force via AP)
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US Flies Long-Range Bomber for Drill with South Korea as North Marks Key State Anniversary 

In this photo, provided by South Korea Air Force, two US Air Force B-1B bomber, top left, fly over the Korean Peninsula with South Korean Air Force F-35A fighter jet, F-16 fighter jets and US Air Force F-16 fighter jets in South Korea during the joint aerial drills of South Korea and the United States, at an undisclosed location in South Korea, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (South Korea Air Force via AP)
In this photo, provided by South Korea Air Force, two US Air Force B-1B bomber, top left, fly over the Korean Peninsula with South Korean Air Force F-35A fighter jet, F-16 fighter jets and US Air Force F-16 fighter jets in South Korea during the joint aerial drills of South Korea and the United States, at an undisclosed location in South Korea, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (South Korea Air Force via AP)

The United States flew long-range B-1B bombers in a show of force against North Korea on Tuesday, days after the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to resist a US-led push to eliminate the North’s nuclear program.

North Korea often reacts to the US deployment of B-1B bombers and other powerful military assets with missile tests and fiery rhetoric. Tuesday’s flyover of the US bombers could draw an angrier response because it happened when North Korea was marking a key anniversary — the 113th birthday of state founder Kim Il Sung, the late grandfather of the current leader.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry said the US bombers participated in a South Korea-US aerial drill over the Korean Peninsula to strengthen the allies’ combined operational capability and demonstrate their deterrence capability against North Korea’s advancing nuclear program.

A ministry statement said South Korean F-35 and F-16 fighter jets and American F-16 fighter jets also took part in the training. It said South Korea and the US will continue to expand their joint military exercises to respond to North Korean nuclear threats.

It was the second time a US B-1B's had participated in a drill with South Korea since President Donald Trump began his second term in January.

In February, North Korea’s Defense Ministry slammed the B-1B's earlier flyover as proof of intensifying US-led provocations since Trump’s inauguration. It pledged to counter the strategic threat of the US with strategic means. Days later, North Korea test-fired cruise missiles in what it called an attempt to show its nuclear counterattack capability.

Trump has repeatedly said he will reach out to Kim Jong Un to revive diplomacy. North Korea hasn’t directly responded to Trump’s outreach.

Last Wednesday, Kim Yo Jong — Kim’s sister and a senior official — derided the US and its Asian allies over what she called their “daydream” of denuclearizing the North, insisting that the country will never give up its nuclear weapons program.

Her statement came as a response to a recent meeting among the top diplomats of the United States, South Korea and Japan where they reaffirmed their commitment to push for the North’s denuclearization.

The Kim Il Sung birthday, called “the Day of Sun,” is one of the most important holidays in North Korea.

On Tuesday, the country's main Rodong Sinmun newspaper issued an editorial urging the public to rally behind Kim Jong Un to achieve national prosperity. In recent days, North Korea has held seminars, performances and other events commemorating the founder's achievements.