Niger’s military junta receives support from two neighboring states

In the event of a military intervention, troops from Mali and Burkina Faso will be stationed in Niger. This was reported by Reuters with reference to a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the three countries on August 24 this year.

          The ministers met in Niamey, Niger’s capital, where General Abdourahamane Tiani, the leader of the country’s junta, signed two orders ,,authorizing the Defense and Security Forces of Burkina Faso and Mali to intervene on Nigerien territory in the event of an attack’’.

          On July 26 this year, the Niger Army announced the ouster of pro-Western President Mohamed Bazum and the closing of the borders. At the same time, a national ban was instituted and the activities of all the institutions of the republic were suspended. The rebels justified their actions using the pretext of worsening the country’s security, economic and social problems.

          Five days later, the 15-member Economic Community of West African States, an organization involved in maintaining regional peace, issued a statement regarding the possible use of force if the rebels do not release the ousted president and restore constitutional order in Niger within a week. On August 6, the ultimatum expired, and in the evening of that day, the military leadership in Niamey closed the country’s airspace due to the threat of a military invasion.

          According to the rebel representative, Amadou Abraman, two neighboring states are sending their troops to Niger’s borders to prepare for intervention. However, details of what happened have not been reported. On August 8, French radio station RFI, citing a Nigerian official, reported that African countries may send a contingent of 25000 troops to invade Niger. At the same time, most of the military could come from Nigeria, whose president ,,has promised zero tolerance for coups’’.