5/8/2023-|Last update: 6/8/202303:39 AM (Mecca Time)
The Associated Press quoted a Western military official as saying that the coup leaders in Niger had asked for help from the Russian “Wagner” group, while Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune warned that the threat of military intervention in Niger was a direct threat to his country.
Meanwhile, the Niger army stressed on Saturday its refusal to back down from the coup, and while Chad determined its position on launching military action against its western neighbor, France said it takes the matter seriously.
The Associated Press reported that one of the coup leaders visited Mali and contacted one of Wagner’s personnel, informing him of the need for the coup leaders to help the Russian military group present in Mali to deal with the possible military intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), whose deadline for the putschists to hand over power expires. during hours.
According to the agency, the request came during a meeting between Nigerian General Salifu Modi and a representative of Wagner in Mali.
A Western official told the Associated Press that the putschists in Niger need Wagner to ensure they remain in power, revealing that the Russian military group is considering the request.
For its part, An-Nahar TV reported, quoting Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune late yesterday evening, Saturday, that Algeria “categorically and completely rejects any military intervention in Niger.”
Earlier, the Algerian president called for a peaceful solution to the crisis. Tebboune indicated – in a media interview – that “Algeria has previously said that it is with constitutional legitimacy.”
He explained that what happened in Niger is “a coup, so they must return to constitutional legitimacy, and if they wish to provide them with assistance for its return, we welcome that.”
In the same context, Chadian Defense Minister Daoud Yahya said that his country will not intervene militarily in Niger, and urged everyone to engage in dialogue to restore stability to this country. Yahya called on the people of Niger to pay attention to what he called the dangers facing their country.
Bazoum’s remarks
The ousted President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, warned last Thursday – in an opinion article published by the American newspaper “The Washington Post” – of what he described as devastating consequences of the coup against the world, considering that the Sahel region might move to Russia’s influence through Wagner. He called on Washington and the international community to help his country restore constitutional order
And French reports had warned that the leaders of the Nigerien coup resorted to the help of Wagner’s forces to remain in power, especially after the appearance of citizens raising the Russian flag during demonstrations in support of them in the capital, Niamey, which the Nigeriens denied at the time.
Meanwhile, a source in Niger’s army told Al Jazeera, “We will not back down from our steps regarding suspending the constitution and overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum.”
The source added that the military rulers will organize direct public meetings in Niamey, in conjunction with the end of the ECOWAS deadline.
And the Al-Jazeera correspondent reported that the coup leader, Abd al-Rahman Tiani, announced changes in the army leadership, as he appointed a new chief of staff and his deputy, and he also chose a new commander of the ground forces and his deputy, and a secretary-general of the Ministry of Defense.
Earlier, Tianyi made changes in the leadership of the National Guard, Gendarmerie and Foreign Intelligence Forces.
ECOWAS intervention plan
With the ECOWAS deadline approaching, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security in the ECOWAS countries, Abdel Fattah Moussa, said that the chiefs of staff in the ECOWAS countries had drawn up a plan for a possible military intervention in Niger, in the event that the coup leaders did not step down.
Moussa added – after a regional meeting in Abuja – that the bloc will not reveal to the coup plotters when and where the strike will be, and “it is a decision that will be taken by the heads of state.”
However, he stressed that the countries of the group hope to reach a political solution, and give the coup leaders all possible opportunities to restore power to the elected president, Muhammad Bazoum.
This follows the conclusion of a meeting in which the chiefs of staff of the West African Community made their recommendations to the commanders who will decide on the intervention.
Commenting on these developments, the isolated Prime Minister of Niger, Hamoudou Mahamadou, confirmed to Al-Jazeera his confidence in any military move by the ECOWAS group, and he hopes to reach a negotiated solution, noting that no positive response has been received from the coup leaders to the ECOWAS request.
A member of the ECOWAS forces during the mission in Banjul, the capital of Gambia (Reuters)
French support
In international situations, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said that the threat to resort to military intervention in Niger must be taken seriously.
She added that the putschists have until tomorrow, to stop what she described as an adventure and restore democracy, stressing the need to listen to all the countries of the region and the international community, as she put it.
Colonna also renewed France’s full support for President Mohamed Bazoum and his government; She said they were the only legitimate authorities in Niger. The French Foreign Minister confirmed her support for the efforts of ECOWAS to thwart the coup attempt in Niger.
In turn, French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne Claire Legondre confirmed – in an interview with Al-Jazeera – that the goal at the present time is to avoid reaching the hypothesis of military intervention in Niger.
The French spokeswoman also said that the coup attempt in Niger was orchestrated by a small group of military personnel who took the democratically elected president hostage and imposed authoritarian authority, as she put it.
In the context, Niger’s ambassador to Paris, Aishatou Boualama Kani, told Al-Jazeera that France’s position supports the efforts of ECOWAS, and she expressed her hope for a peaceful solution instead of resorting to force.
The Ambassador of Niger in Paris confirmed her recognition of the president’s legitimate authority, and considered that the decision to deport a number of ambassadors was unacceptable and was made by an illegitimate government.
separate positions
For his part, European Union foreign policy official Josep Borrell said that he discussed with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Ataf the developments in Niger. He added – in a tweet – that the two sides share the desire to avoid an escalation that could have dire consequences for the region. Borrell made clear his support for the ECOWAS group and the call for an immediate return to constitutional order.
In turn, the federal government said on Saturday that Canada had decided to suspend direct development aid to the Niger government in response to the attempted coup in the country.
The government added in a statement that the suspension would include Canada’s direct budgetary support to the government of Niger.
In Washington, Sabrina Singh, deputy spokesman for the US Department of Defense (Pentagon), said that her country had not changed the status of its military forces in Niger.
She added – in a televised interview – that Washington considers Niger an important regional partner in combating what it described as terrorism.
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2023-08-05 22:35:02
