Mali, Burkina Faso call on UN to prevent armed intervention in Niger

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
9 Aug 2023 14:13
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Mali and Burkina Faso are committed to assisting with finding solutions to the crisis "exclusively through diplomacy and negotiations," a joint letter by the countries two top diplomats read.

Supporters of Niger’s ruling junta hold a Russian flag in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023 (AP)

The foreign ministers of Mali and Burkina Faso issued a joint letter to the United Nations on Tuesday, calling for the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities for the resolution of the Nigerien crisis and ensure that no armed interventions are taken against Niamey.

"The transitional Governments of Burkina Faso and the Republic of Mali appeal to the primary responsibility of the Security Council ... to use all means at its disposal to prevent armed action against a sovereign State [of Niger], the consequences of which would be unpredictable," the letter signed by Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop and his Burkina Faso's counterpart Olivia Rouamb read.

The letter further stated that Mali and Burkina Faso are committed to assisting with finding solutions to the crisis "exclusively through diplomacy and negotiations."

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.

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

On Tuesday, the head of delegations of both Burkina Faso and Mali, Mali's Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization Abdoulaye Maiga said after a meeting with the Nigerien coup leaders that Mali and Burkina Faso will not accept any military intervention in Niger.

"One thing is certain, President [of Mali Assimi] Goita and [President of Burkina Faso Ibrahim] Traore said no, no, and no. We will not accept military intervention in Niger," Maiga said, as quoted by Mali's aBamako news website.