2023-08-07 16:08:31
Another crisis meeting. The leaders of the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced on Twitter Monday August 7 that they will meet once more Thursday in Abuja (Nigeria), for a “extraordinary summit” re “the political situation” in Niger. This announcement comes following the expiration of an ultimatum issued by ECOWAS to the junta in place in Niger, threatened with military intervention if it does not release power. Follow our live.
A first military delegation in Niamey. The Malian army announced on Monday the sending by Mali and Burkina Faso of a joint official delegation to the Nigerien capital to express their “solidarity” with Niger. She is “led by the Malian minister” Abdoulaye Maïga, one of the strong men of the Malian junta, said Bamako on Twitter. The objective is to “to show the solidarity of the two countries to the brotherly people of Niger”she added.
The ECOWAS ultimatum ended, the country’s airspace closed. “Face to the threat of intervention which is becoming clearer from neighboring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed (…) until further notice”, announced on Sunday the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland (CNSP), which took power. This declaration came shortly before the expiration, Monday at midnight, of the ECOWAS ultimatum to the military to restore President Mohamed Bazoum to his duties. Despite this expiration, Italy called on Monday to extend the utimatum, in order to avoid a conflict.
Any trip to Niger is “formally discouraged” by the Quai d’Orsay. “Any trip to Niger is formally discouraged”the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said on its website on Sunday. “French nationals in Niger are called upon to be extremely vigilant: it is essential to limit their movements, to stay away from any gathering and to keep themselves regularly informed of the situation”adds Paris.
Paris believes that the threat of intervention must be taken “very seriously”. The Nigerian putschists “would do well to take the threat of military intervention by a regional force very seriously”warned, Saturday, on franceinfo, Catherine Colonna, French Minister of Foreign Affairs.
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