The countries of Africa gave the go-ahead to a military intervention in Niger | France communicated “its full support” to the decision

2023-08-11 05:01:00

West African countries have given the go-ahead to start a military intervention in Niger against the government resulting from the coup “as soon as possible,” the president of the Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, reported on Thursday.

“The chiefs of staff will hold other meetings to agree on the details, but they have the go-ahead from the heads of state for the operation to start as soon as possible,” said Ouattara, after participating in a summit of the Economic Community of States in Nigeria. West Africa (Cedeao). Before the announcement, the countries of the block confirmed that they prioritize diplomacy over force to convince the coup leaders to reinstate Mohamed Bazoum, who is detained in Niamey, the capital of Niger, as president.

The Government of France stressed its “full support for all the conclusions” established by the African countries. “France reiterates its firm condemnation of the ongoing coup attempt, as well as the kidnapping of President Bazoum and his family,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement, hours after the summit held in the Nigerian capital. . Bazoum had been in recent years a key ally of the West and, in particular, of France, among other issues to strengthen the fight against terrorism in the Sahel. The new Nigerian authorities, on the other hand, would be closer to Russia’s orbit, and even showed their good harmony with the Wagner mercenary group, according to the EuropaPress news agency.

Meanwhile, the Nigerien military junta ignored ECOWAS calls and even took steps to consolidate: the formation of a new Executive with 21 ministers was established, which includes two generals in command of key portfolios: in charge of Defense Colonel Salifou Mody will be there, while General Mohamed Toumba will head the Ministry of the Interior. Among its allies are the authorities of Burkina Faso and Mali, who have already warned that a hypothetical military intervention in Niger would mean a “declaration of war” against them as well.