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Niger’s new strongman, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, who came to power through a coup d’etat, assured on Saturday evening that the transition period could not exceed three years.

He however warned against military invasion aimed at his country by foreign countries.

This was coming after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened military action to forcefully reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

According to a local news portal, A Miamey, General Tchiani said, “Our ambition is not to confiscate power”.

He was quoted to have said during a televised address, specifying that the duration of the transition “cannot go beyond three years”.

“If an attack were to be undertaken against us, it will not be the walkover some people believe in,” he warned, the day after a decision by ECOWAS saying it was ready for armed intervention.

During the broadcast, General Tchiani announced the launch of a “national dialogue” which has thirty days to formulate “concrete proposals” with a view to laying “the foundations of a new constitutional life”.

His televised speech came after the visit, earlier in the day, by a delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to seek a peaceful solution to the crisis.

“ECOWAS is preparing to attack Niger by setting up an occupying army in collaboration with a foreign army”, continued General Tiani without citing any country.

He also denounced the “illegal” and “inhuman” sanctions of the WestAfrican organization.

Since July 30, Niger has been under heavy financial and trade sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, which demanded the reinstatement of overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held prisoner by the junta since the July 26 coup.