2023-08-02 19:54:42
A military intervention in Niger would be “the last option on the table” to restore the president ousted by a coup d’etat Mohamed Bazoum a week ago, estimated this Wednesday, August 2, an official of the West African bloc, whose leaders have threatened to use ” strength “.
“The military option is the very last option on the table, the last resort, but we have to be prepared for that eventuality”, declared the Commissioner of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in charge of Political Affairs and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah. He made the statement at the opening of a meeting of West African chiefs of staff in Abuja which is due to end on Friday, two days before an ultimatum from ECOWAS leaders expires on Sunday.
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At the same time, the express evacuation of foreign nationals from Niger continues after the arrival of three planes in Paris and Rome, and must be completed during the day, according to France.
ECOWAS, chaired by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, imposed heavy sanctions on Niamey and gave putschists until Sunday to restore former President Mohamed Bazoum, or risk using ” strength “.
Niger: return in three acts on the diplomatic tensions between France and the putschists
In line with the sanctions taken by ECOWAS, Nigeria has cut off its electricity supply to Niger, which is 70% energy dependent on its neighbour.
An ECOWAS delegation, led by the Nigerian Abdulsalami Abubakar, is currently in Niamey to ” negotiate “ with the putschists, said one of the ECOWAS officials at the opening of the meeting of the chiefs of staff.
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Nigerian envoy to Mali
For its part, the junta which overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 and has held him since, sent an emissary, General Salifou Mody, to Mali, according to two senior Nigerien and Malian officials.
Mali and Burkina Faso, neighboring countries ruled by the military after military coups in 2020 and 2022, back the junta and have said any armed intervention would be considered “like a declaration of war” to their two countries and would lead to their withdrawal from ECOWAS. The junta on Monday accused France, a former colonial power, of wanting “to intervene militarily”which Paris strongly denied.
Coup d’etat in Niger: “The anti-French feeling, minority, could switch to the majority”
The junta announced on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday the reopening “land and air borders” Niger with five neighboring countries (Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad).
France, a former colonial power in the region and unfailing support of President Bazoum, appears to be the privileged target of the soldiers who overthrew the latter, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani. The evacuation of some 1,500 French soldiers stationed in Niger is not “not on the agenda”according to the general staff of the French armies.
No question either for the United States which does not speak of ” Rebellion “estimating that there is still a “little window” for diplomacy and the reinstatement of President Bazoum in his functions. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited Niamey in March, assured Mohamed Bazoum by telephone of the “unwavering support of the United States” who reject “attempts to overthrow the constitutional order”.
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