The ministry unveiled the dates in a press release broadcast overnight Saturday on state television, adding that the gathering would take place in the capital Niamey.

In August 2023, shortly after taking power in a coup, General Abdourahamane Tiani announced the organisation of an "inclusive national dialogue" to outline the priority areas of governance and lay down the duration of the transition.

At the time, he mentioned a maximum duration of three years, but he has not addressed the issue since.

Early last year consultations were held across the country's eight regions to lay out a working basis for next week's meetings, with a national commission also created by presidential decree to oversee the work of the four-day conference set to produce a "preliminary draft of the transition charter".

Following the gathering there will be a three-week period in which to draft a "final report" to General Tiani.

The commission, headed by Dr Mamoudou Harouna Djingareye, a traditional leader, also comprises former ministers, academics, lawyers, soldiers, advisors to General Tiani, religious leaders and figures drawn from civil society.

It is made up of five sub-committees whose themes are "peace, security, national reconciliation and social cohesion", "political and institutional overhaul" and "justice and human rights".

Niger is one of several countries in Africa's Sahel region where the military has seized power in coups in recent years, amid persistent attacks by jihadist insurgencies.