Several countries called on Tuesday for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Niger, two days before a West African military meeting to discuss a possible armed intervention to restore President Mohamed Bazoum, overthrown by a coup nearly a while ago. of three weeks.
“We remain focused on the diplomatic route to obtain (…) the return to constitutional order, and I believe that there continues to be a margin to obtain this result by diplomacy”, declared the head of the American diplomacy Antony Blinken to the press.
Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Malian counterpart Assimi Goïta, who came to power by a putsch in 2020, underlined during a telephone conversation “the importance of resolving the situation” in Niger, “only by peaceful politico-diplomatic means”.
Mali, a neighboring country of Niger, very quickly showed its solidarity with the military in power in Niamey.
On Tuesday, the new Prime Minister appointed by the military in Niamey, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine went to N’Djamena where he was received by the Chadian transitional President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, for a “working visit”, have announced the authorities of this neighboring country of Niger.
Mr. Zeine, accompanied by two executives of the military regime, brought a “message” from the new strongman of Niamey, General Abdourahamane Tiani, to express his “brotherhood” and “renew the feeling of good neighbourliness” between the two countries, insisting however on the “independence” of Niger.
Chad, an important African military power, had indicated last week that it would not participate in any military intervention alongside the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to which it does not belong.
But the pressure remains strong on the military in power in Niamey.
A meeting of ECOWAS chiefs of staff, originally scheduled for August 12, will take place on August 17 and 18 in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, according to a regional military source and a source within the regional organization.
It will be held a week after ECOWAS decided to deploy a “standby force” to restore Mohamed Bazoum, the president of Niger toppled by a military coup on July 26.
The military in power in Niger also raised their voices on Monday evening in the face of the threat of armed intervention.
They recalled Niger’s ambassador to Abidjan for “consultation”, after remarks by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara who, according to them, “apologized for armed action” against their country.
On Thursday, President Ouattara said that the heads of state agreed that a military operation “start as soon as possible”, pledging to provide a battalion.
The military regime in Niamey denounced Mr. Ouattara’s “eagerness” to “see this completely illegal and senseless aggression against Niger take place”.
On Tuesday, a container was placed across the road that connects Benin to Niger at Malanville, the only land border between the two countries, according to the testimony of several inhabitants on the Benin side.
According to these sources, this container – which completely blocks the passage – would have been placed on the Niger side to prevent a possible military intervention by this border.
ECOWAS also denounced on Monday “a new provocation” by the military in power in Niamey who announced their intention to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum “for high treason” in court.
The latter claim to have gathered “evidence”, based on “exchanges” that Mr. Bazoum would have had with “nationals”, “foreign heads of state” and “heads of international organizations”, a “false invention”, according to the party of the overthrown president.
The latter has been detained since the coup in his presidential residence, with his son and his wife.
But the path of dialogue is not abandoned: on Saturday, a delegation of Nigerian Muslim religious leaders who traveled to Niamey assured that the new strongman of Niger, General Abdourahamane Tiani was ready to “explore the path of diplomacy and peace in order to resolve” the crisis.
And ECOWAS repeated last week its preference to favor the “diplomatic way”.
Since July 30, this landlocked Sahelian country undermined by the violence of various armed jihadist groups has been under heavy financial and trade sanctions imposed by ECOWAS.
On Tuesday, the Sahel Alliance, an international platform coordinating aid to the region, said it was “particularly concerned” by the implications of the coup “on the most vulnerable populations and by the information relating to the increasing restriction of human and civil rights”.
The Sahel Alliance brings together several countries and international institutions such as France, Germany or the United States which have suspended their aid programs in Niger.
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08/15/2023 19:43:47 – Niamey (Niger) (AFP) – © 2023 AFP