On Monday, Burkina Faso and Mali issued a joint statement warning against military intervention in their neighbor and coup-stricken Niger, claiming that such action would equate to war in the West African area.
Following a threat by West African leaders, the two countries, which are both governed by militarily supported governments, issued the warning in a joint statement.
Recall that following the successful coup in Niger last week, the ECOWAS leadership vowed to take military action against the junta during an emergency meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.
The ECOWAS handed the junta a seven-day deadline to restore President Mohamed Bazoum, who is being kept captive, or face penalties, during the meeting, which was presided over by its chairman, President Bola Tinubu.
Burkina Faso and Mali, incensed by the threat, pleaded with the West African leaders to leave Niger alone in a statement delivered on their national broadcasts on Monday night, emphasizing that any foolish move would have “disastrous consequences.”
Part of the statement reads, “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 coup in Niger which occured on July 26 has sent shockwaves across West Africa as fear gripped other neighbouring countries, including Nigeria.
Niger’s coup leaders named General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the former presidential guard chief, as Head of State.
According to the military, President Bazoum was overthrown over poor governance and discontent with the way he handled security threats from groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS.
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