The leader of the junta in Niger, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, disobeyed the ECOWAS leaders on Saturday night by announcing a three-year transition to democracy.

Following a meeting with an ECOWAS group led by a former Nigerian leader, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, he made the announcement in a televised statement.

Tchiani warned ECOWAS against entering his country militarily.

During his statement, Tchiani said, “Our ambition is not to seize power,” adding that the transition period cannot last longer than three years.

“If an attack is launched against us, it won’t be a breeze like some people think,”

Tchiani proclaimed the start of a thirty-day “national dialogue” in his 12-minute speech.

The dialogue will result in the development of “concrete proposals” aimed at creating the “foundations of a new constitutional order.”

“ECOWAS is planning an attack on Niger by establishing an occupying army in collaboration with a foreign army,” Tchiani stated, without naming a country.

He also condemned the West African Economic Community’s “illegal” and “inhuman” sanctions.

Following the coup on July 26, Niger has faced severe financial and economic sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, which wants ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to return to power.

Bazoum, who saw General Abubakar on Saturday, has been detained since the military ousted him.