By Chris Muhizi for MCN.
The elected government of Niger has been out of power since the junta decided to end military collaboration with the country’s former colonial power, France, in response to a West African delegation’s efforts to achieve this.
According to a member of the delegation, the team from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) regional grouping arrived in Niamey on Thursday but “did not spend the night” as planned or meet with coup leader Abdourahamane Tiani or imprisoned President Mohamed Bazoum.
The putschists were given a week to restore Bazoum to power or face the possibility of armed intervention. Nigeria, a regional superpower, currently occupies the rotating president of Ecowas.
Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria, said that the bloc will attempt to resolve the dispute diplomatically, but Ecowas warned that it could, as a last resort, turn to military intervention.
One of the putschists read a statement on national television that said, “Any aggression or attempted aggression against the State of Niger will see an immediate and unannounced response from the Niger Defence and Security Forces on one of (the bloc’s) members.”
The phrase “the exception of suspended friendly countries” was used to refer to Burkina Faso and Mali, two nearby nations that have recently experienced military coups as well.
The juntas in those nations have warned that any military action in Niger would amount to a “declaration of war.”
The governments of Burkina Faso and Mali issued a joint statement in which they said “any military intervention against Niger would be tantamount to a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali.”
The terrible effects of a military involvement in Niger, they claimed, “could destabilize the entire region.”
Aside from that, the two stated that they “refuse to apply” the “illegal, illegitimate, and inhumane sanctions against the people and authorities of Niger.”
The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) threatened to use “all measures” to restore constitutional order if Bazoum was not reinstalled within a week during an emergency session on Sunday.
On Monday, the junta in Niger claimed that France was attempting to “intervene militarily” to restore Bazoum; this was refuted by French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna.
Colonna responded to the charge by saying, “It’s not right,” and adding that it was still “possible” to reinstate the president as leader.
She added on Monday night, “And it’s necessary because destabilization is dangerous for Niger and its neighbors.”