AMID mounting pressure by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore civilian rule in the Niger Republic, Burkina Faso and Mali have deployed warplanes to the Niger Republic in response to ECOWAS’ military intervention threat.
According to Nigeria Tribune, this is just as military staff of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic met to discuss a joint defence strategy in response to the announcement of military intervention by the ECOWAS.
A local media had reported on Saturday that the military personnel met in Niamey to decide on “concrete measures” in case ECOWAS chooses to “escalate a war.”
Niger’s state television reported that both Burkina Faso and Mali declared that any military intervention in Niger will be considered a declaration of war against them.
The station reported that the warplanes deployed on Friday are Super Tucano fighter jets.
“Mali and Burkina Faso turned their commitments into concrete action by deploying warplanes to respond to any attack on Niger,” it said.
According to a joint statement by the two countries, they said “the disastrous consequences of a military intervention could destabilise the entire region.”
Meanwhile, an ECOWAS delegation, on Saturday, met with Niger Republic coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani and ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in Niamey, the nation’s capital.
An ECOWAS source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the delegation was received by the junta-appointed Prime Minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, at Niamey airport.
While previous ECOWAS missions have been rebuffed, the source told Reuters that the meeting between the ECOWAS delegation and Niger authorities was held in the evening.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah said all options, including a diplomatic solution, remain on the table.
According to him, if the ECOWAS mission’s travel to Niger fails, the regional bloc would resort to a military solution to restore constitutional order in the country.
Though a specific date for a military intervention was arrived at, the ECOWAS commissioner said it cannot be made public.
At the meeting, all member states except those ruled by the military, as well as Cape Verde, reportedly agreed to participate.
