The recent coup in Niger Republic has taken another turn on Monday night as Burkina Faso and Mali, warned against military intervention in their coup-hit neighbour, saying it would be tantamount to war in the West African region if any military intervention comes from the Economic of West African State.
The warning which was conveyed in a joint statement by the two African countries, which are both ruled by military governments, came after a threat by the Economic of West African States.
Premium Politics reports that military guards in the country had last week Wednesday, barricaded the elected President of the country, Mohamed Bazoum and his family inside the presidential palace.
However, the military guard’s leader, Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani on Friday, declared himself the new leader of the country after the coup was successful.
It would be also recalled that Premium Politic reports that the ECOWAS, had during its emergency meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, threatened military action against Niger’s junta after the successful coup last week.
In the meeting, which was chaired by its Chairman, President Bola Tinubu, ECOWAS gave the military junta 7 days ultimatum to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum, who is being held captive or facing sanctions.
Reacting to the threat, Burkina Faso and Mali in the statement read on their national broadcasts on Monday night, warned the West African leaders to leave Niger alone, stressing that any funny move would result in “disastrous consequences.”
The statement reads partly:
“The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali express their fraternal solidarity… to the people of Niger, who have decided with full responsibility to take their destiny in hand and assume the fullness of their sovereignty before history.
“Any military intervention against Niger would be tantamount to a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali.”
The military leaders had stated that President Bazoum was overthrown over poor governance and discontent with the way he handled security threats from groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS.
