2023-08-09 06:58:15
The West African bloc gives priority to diplomacy to resolve the crisis in Niger, while maintaining its threat of military intervention to “restore constitutional order” there, Wednesday on the eve of a regional summit.
On the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) declared in a press release that it would continue “to deploy all the necessary measures to ensure the return to order constitution in Niger”, i.e. to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum, who was overthrown by a coup d’etat on 26 July.
On Tuesday evening, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, currently at the head of ECOWAS, had already assured that diplomacy was the “best way forward”, without excluding military intervention, according to his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, insisting: ” no option has been ruled out by ECOWAS”.
Nigeria spoke for the first time since the expiration Sunday evening of a seven-day ultimatum set on July 30 to the soldiers who took power in Niamey. An ECOWAS summit is to be held Thursday in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
Niger’s military coup regime seems unresponsive to offers of negotiations.
On Tuesday, a joint delegation from ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations was unable to travel to the Sahelian country, the regional organization confirmed in the evening.
Map of Niger showing existing uranium mining sites in Niger, and future mining projects
AFP
This mission was canceled following a communication from the military authorities of Niger indicating that they were “not in a position to receive the tripartite delegation”, according to ECOWAS.
The military in power in Niamey had for their part invoked reasons of “security, in this atmosphere of threat of aggression against Niger”.
“The current context of anger and revolt of the populations following the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS does not allow the reception of the said delegation in the serenity and security required”, according to a letter to ECOWAS from the Nigerien Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Extremely frank” discussions
The same ministry indicated in another letter that “the permanent diplomatic authorizations” granted for 2023 “to aircraft from friendly and partner countries of Niger are temporarily suspended”, without specifying the type of aircraft or the countries concerned.
The postponement of the visit of the West African delegation adds to another sign of defiance from the new Nigerien leaders: the appointment Monday evening of a civilian Prime Minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, which appears to be the first step towards the designation of a transitional government.
France, a former colonial power regularly vilified during demonstrations in West Africa, said Tuesday from a diplomatic source that it supported “the efforts of the countries of the region to restore democracy” in Niger.
The United States, a privileged partner with France in the fight against the jihadist groups which mine this uranium-rich country and a large part of the Sahel region, have also attempted dialogue.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday on X (ex-Twitter) that he had spoken to Mr. Bazoum, under house arrest in Niamey, “to express our continued efforts to find a peaceful solution to the current constitutional crisis. “.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who heads ECOWAS, in Abuja on July 30, 2023
AFP/Archives
“We’re still hopeful, but we’re also very realistic,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Tuesday, declaring “completely regrettable” the postponement of the US delegation’s visit. ECOWAS.
On Monday, the number two in American diplomacy, Victoria Nuland, came to Niamey to meet the perpetrators of the coup, a meeting which was not attended by General Abdourahamane Tiani, Niger’s new strongman. Nor did she meet Mr. Bazoum.
The discussions “were extremely frank and at times quite difficult”, she acknowledged.
Mali and Burkina Faso, also led by soldiers who have taken power by force since 2020 and 2022 respectively, have for their part shown their solidarity with Niger. They claimed that if the country was attacked by ECOWAS, it would be “a declaration of war” for them.
On Tuesday, they sent joint letters to the UN and the AU calling for their “responsibility” to prevent “any military intervention against Niger, the extent of the security and humanitarian consequences of which would be unpredictable”.
Meanwhile, Mr Blinken said in a BBC interview on Tuesday that Mr Bazoum’s forced departure had not been “fomented by Russia or by Wagner”, but warned that the Russian group of mercenaries “would try to To take advantage of”.
The Russian security group Wagner has established itself in several African countries in crisis, including Mali and the Central African Republic, where it protects the powers in place and provides military training. In exchange, he pays himself with local resources, particularly mining.
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