Leader of the Niger junta, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, has again snubbed the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) as he has said the army will hand over power to the civilian government within the next three years.
Tchiani made this known in a televised broadcast on Saturday night.
Tchiani spoke after meeting with a delegation of the ECOWAS led by the former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd).
General Tchiani said within a month, the junta will form a committee to study and form the new constitution of the country.
While he maintained that Niger does not want to go to war, the General said the county will defend itself if the need arises.
He, however, added that the door for negotiation was still open.
ECOWAS is yet to react to the speech of the junta leader but Abdulsalami is expected to brief the regional bloc on the outcome of the meeting.
