… Say Any military Intervention Would Be Seen As Declaration Of War
The Transitional Governments of Burkina Faso and Mali have dared the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the leadership of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invade Niger over Coup d’état.
The communique is seen as a direct response to the conclusions of the recent summits held by ECOWAS and UEMOA in Abuja on July 30, 2023, discussing Niger’s political situation.
The regional body, after the meeting gave ultimatum to the coupist to relinquish power to the democratically elected and recognized government.
However, both Burkina Faso and Mali have denounced the regional organizations’ persistence in imposing sanctions, which they believe would worsen the suffering of the populations and undermine the spirit of pan-Africanism.
The governments firmly refused to apply these illegal and inhuman sanctions against Niger and warned that any military intervention against Niger would be seen as a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali. For Mali, the communique was issued by Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel OUEDRAOGO, the Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Government Spokesperson, and Knight of the Order of Merit, Arts, Letters, and Communication.
For Burkina Faso, Colonel Abdoulaye MAIGA, the Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts, and Tourism, Government Spokesperson, and Knight of the National Order, delivered the statement. Highlighting the potential disastrous consequences of military intervention in Niger, the governments drew parallels with the aftermath of NATO’s unilateral action in Libya, which led to the expansion of terrorism in the Sahel and West Africa.
The Transitional Governments of Burkina Faso and Mali expressed indignation over the discrepancy between certain political leaders’ eagerness to use armed forces to restore order in Niger and the inaction of organizations and political leaders in helping states and peoples who have been victims of terrorism for years. ALSO READ:Tinubu Out Of Touch With Reality – NLC, Says Struggle Continues Until Real Commitment To Ammeliorate Sufferings Of Workers Seen
In a call for unity, the governments urged the living forces to be ready and mobilized to support the people of Niger during these challenging times for Pan-Africanism.
Nigerien President Muhammed Bazoum was ousted from office on July 27. Soldiers immediately declared an indefinite curfew and closure of all borders, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, who appeared to be among the leaders of the coup, addressed Mr Bazoum directly, saying the soldiers seized power to “put an end to the regime that you know due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance.”
However, this development has been widely condemned by international communities, the United States of America, the United Nations and ECOWAS
