The military regime resulting from a coup in Niger is sticking to its guns on the eve of the summit of West African countries to be held Thursday in Abuja, capital of Nigeria led by Bola Tinubu, president in office of ECOWAS.
Niamey seems insensitive to offers of negotiations from West Africa and the United States to avoid military intervention to restore constitutional order, which remains an option.
The Nigerian president, however, believes that diplomacy is the “best way” to resolve the crisis, even if he did not rule out military intervention in Niger, his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said on Tuesday.
A joint delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and the United Nations was unable to travel to Niger on Tuesday, the regional organization confirmed in the evening.
This mission was canceled following a communication from the military authorities of Niger indicating that they were not able to receive this tripartite delegation, ECOWAS added.
The military in power in Niamey had 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 to welcome the said delegation in the serenity and security required”, indicates a letter from the Nigerien Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent Monday to ECOWAS .
The same ministry also 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.
ECOWAS has threatened to intervene militarily in Niger to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum, overthrown by a coup on July 26.
This threat, in the form of a seven-day ultimatum set to the Nigerien military on July 30 by the leaders of ECOWAS, was not carried out when it expired on Sunday evening, the organization saying it wanted to favor the path of dialogue. .
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 appointment of a transitional government.
The United States, a privileged partner with France in the fight against the jihadist groups which undermine this country and a large part of the Sahel region, have also attempted dialogue.
The number two of American diplomacy, Victoria Nuland, came to Niamey on Monday to meet the perpetrators of the coup, a meeting which was not attended by General Abdourahamane Tiani, Niger’s new strongman. She also did not meet President Mohamed Bazoum, under house arrest in Niamey.
The discussions “were extremely frank and at times quite difficult”, she acknowledged. She said she offered “many options” to end the coup, adding: “I wouldn’t say that offer was considered in any way.”
“It is certain that diplomacy is the preferable way to resolve this situation,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Later, a State Department spokesperson said, “We’re still hopeful, but we’re also very realistic” about the success of diplomacy.
Antony Blinken also felt “that what happened (…) in Niger was not orchestrated by Russia or Wagner, but (…) they tried to take advantage of it”.
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.
France, a former colonial power regularly vilified during demonstrations in West Africa – which Russia benefits from – said on Tuesday from diplomatic sources that it supported “the efforts of the countries of the region to restore democracy” in Niger.
If the relations of the new masters of Niamey are tense with the Western countries and most of the African countries which condemned the coup, they are excellent with Mali and Burkina Faso, also led by soldiers who took power by strength, since 2020 and 2022 respectively.
The two countries showed their solidarity with Niger, saying that if the country were 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”.
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09/08/2023 06:16:48 – Niamey (Niger) (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
