An attack on Niger could unleash war across Africa: Bazoum's advisor

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
9 Aug 2023 22:54
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The ousted President's political aid urges ECOWAS to try and seek a diplomatic approach to settle the situation rather than resort to military action.

Nigerien citizens during an anti-France protest denouncing the European country's colonialism against their country in Niamey, Niger, August 3, 2023 (AFP)

An ECOWAS military attack on Niger might bring all of Africa up in flames, the political advisor of ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum warned on Wednesday.

"I don't think ECOWAS will know the price of this mistake of military intervention in Niger, because if they intervene militarily, it means that all of Africa will be at war," Antinekar Al-Hassan told Sputnik.

Al-Hassan also claimed that the new leadership in Niger has so far rejected to negotiate.

"There are no negotiations, the [military] junta rejects them," he told the news agency.

Western-backed ECOWAS gave the coup leaders a one-week deadline - which ended last Sunday - to surrender to the bloc's terms or else face a military operation. The delayed action came amid reports of a number of internal hurdles within the countries of the West African bodies - most notably the Senate opposition in Nigeria.

The military governments of Mali and Burkina Faso have previously warned that any attack on Niger would be considered a declaration of war against them.

So far, military interference has not yet been ruled out, as the Western-backed ECOWAS announced on Tuesday that it has the capacity to deploy 25,000 troops in order to invade Niger and reinstate Bazoum back in power.

But ECOWAS and the US toned down their threats to Niger on Tuesday, pushing for a diplomatic solution, however confirming that all options remain on the table.

France is not leaving

At the moment, France has approximately 1,500 troops positioned in Niger, and French President Emmanuel Macron has taken a strong stance against the coup, saying it is "completely illegitimate and profoundly dangerous, for Nigeriens, for Niger and for the whole region."

Last week, Niger announced that it had annulled a slew of military cooperation agreements with France while an order for French troops to leave the country is anticipated to be issued soon.

"They are not going to leave the country, this is an illegitimate regime," Al-Hassan claimed.

In a joint letter dated August 8, former presidents and prime ministers of Niger urged ECOWAS to lift sanctions on the country and resort to diplomatic approaches to resolve the escalating tensions.

"We ... are asking you to lift sanctions against the people of Niger and use diplomatic and political means to find together with the military peaceful and constructive solutions to this serious crisis suffered by our country," the letter read.

The signees include former President Mahamane Ousmane, as well as former prime ministers, such as Seini Oumarou, Mamane Oumarou, Hama Amadou, and Mahamadou Danda.