NIAMEY, Niger — In a stark break from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the nations of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea have thrown their support behind the recent coup leaders in Niger, signaling a major shift in West Africa’s geopolitical landscape.
In Niger, the coup unfolded last week Wednesday when General Abdourahmane Tchiani, also known as Omar Tchiani, the chief of the presidential guard, declared himself leader of the nation. Meanwhile, the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, remains detained by the military.
The reaction from ECOWAS was swift. The regional economic union issued a one-week ultimatum to the coup leaders: reinstate Bazoum to power or face potential military action.
But Mali and Burkina Faso, in a joint statement released Monday, made clear their opposition to such action. Col. Abdoulaye Maiga and Emmanuel Oudraogo, their spokespersons, declared that any military intervention in Niger would be tantamount to declaring war on both countries.
In a similar vein, the Guinea National Committee of the Rally for Development (CNRD), led by head of state Mamady Doumbouya, made their opposition to ECOWAS’s proposed sanctions known. They contended that the advocated measures, including military intervention, could exacerbate the situation and cause a human disaster, with ripple effects going beyond Niger’s borders.
The statement by CNRD expressed solidarity with the people of Niger and reassured them of the authorities’ commitment to finding solutions to the nation’s problems. They criticized the ECOWAS sanctions as “illegitimate and inhumane,” and urged ECOWAS to reconsider.
The CNRD also emphasized that the actions taken and threats made at the ECOWAS summit on July 30, 2023 do not obligate the Republic of Guinea in any way.
The story continues to develop, and more updates will follow from Mandy News.
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