Niger coup leader rallies Burkina Faso, Mali against ECOWAS
Expels Nigerian, French, German ambassadorsUS begins evacuation of citizensECOWAS to junta: It’s not too late to reconsider your actionsUS Deputy Secretary of State Phee visits Nigeria, Chad, Ghana; to speak on Niger crisis
The head of the junta in Niger Republic, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, yesterday signed two decrees authorizing Burkina Faso and Mali to intervene militarily on Nigeriene territory should the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) make good its threat to move in troops to restore democracy.
It also expelled the ambassadors of Nigeria, Germany and France and told them to leave Niamey within 48 hours.
ECOWAS warned the junta yesterday that it was not too late for the puschists to reconsider their action.
It declared that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, its own planned restoration of democracy in Niamey is not at the prompting of foreign powers.
The US yesterday began the evacuation of its citizens from Niger ahead of a visit by the US Deputy Secretary of State, Molly Phee, to Nigeria, Chad and Ghana over the impasse.
The foreign ministers of Niger,,Burkina Faso and Mali announced their military alliance through a joint communiqué.
The accord allows Mali and Burkina Faso to provide military assistance to Niger in the event of military intervention against the putschists there.
It also called for the three countries to take joint action against terrorist groups active in their countries and secure their borders.
Oaugadougou and Bamako sent Super Tucano jets to Niamey last week in a show of solidarity.
Niger Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in separate letters to the three envoys asked them to depart Niamey by tomorrow.
In the case of Nigeria,the junta said it was “in reaction to Nigerian Ambassador Mohamed Usman’s refusal to reply to an invitation by the ministry for a discussion on Friday August 25 at 11.30 a.m., and due to other actions of the Nigerian government contrary to Niger’s interests.”
It accused the German ambassador, Olivier Schnakenberg, and the French ambassador Sylvain Itte of refusing to honour similar invitations for discussion.
Nigeria is in the forefront of ECOWAS insistence on the exit of the military from power and the restoration of ousted President Mohammed Bazoum.
President Bola Tinubu has even sent several delegations for talks with Tchani
France, Niger’s former colonial power, said the “putschists have no authority” to order such an expulsion.
Paris opposes July’s coup, saying that ousted President Mohammed Bazoum must be returned to office.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna sent an Aug. 8 note to express solidarity with Nigerien Ambassador in Paris Aichatou Boulama Kane who refused to leave her position after the military administration took power.
Niger was plunged into turmoil July 26 when Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, a former commander of the presidential guard, led a military intervention that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
US Deputy Secretary of State visits Nigeria,Chad,Ghana over Niger
The US Department of State said Deputy Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee,would be visiting Nigeria, Chad and Ghana between August 25 and 29 partly on account of the impasse in Niger.
She is expected to speak with the presidents of the three countries on her Washington’s support for ECOWAS on the Niger crisis response.
“ In all her conversations, she will mention the common objectives of preserving Niger’s hard-won democracy and obtaining the immediate release and recovery of President Bazoum, his family and members of his unjustly detained government,” the department said.
Commission president of ECOWAS Omar Alieu Touray declared yesterday that the organization was not being teleguided by foreign powers to move against the coupist in Niger as being insinuated in some quarters.
Touray told reporters in Abuja that the position of ECOWAS leaders was motivated by their desire to reject another coup in their region
He said it was not therefore too late for Tchani and his men to reconsider their position as they wrangle over a return to civilian rule with the option of military force still “very much on the table.”
“Even now, it is not too late for the military to reconsider its action and listen to the voice of reason as the regional leaders will not condone a coup d’etat,” Touray said.
“The real issue is the determination of the community to halt the spiral of coup d’etats in the region.”
Touray said the ECOWAS military standby mission would be a legitimate force allowed under ECOWAS statures agreed by members.
His words:“The instruments include the use of force. So it is very much on the table, as are other measures we are working on.
“If peaceful means fail, ECOWAS cannot just fold its hands.”
Tchani said last weekend that his country Niger did not want a war, but would defend itself against any foreign intervention.
In a veiled reference to the planned intervention by ECOWAS,he said:”If an attack were to be undertaken against us, it will not be the walk in the park some people seem to think.”
He described the sanctions imposed on his country as “illegal and inhumane”.
He said he was not interested in hijacking power and that his regime would not remain in power beyond three years.
ECOWAS rejected the three-year timeframe outright, saying it was “ not accepting any prolonged transition again in the region.”
“They just have to get ready to hand over in the shortest possible time,” Abdel-Fatau Musah, the bloc’s commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, told the BBC.
