APA-Niamey (Niger) – On Monday, a delegation from Burkina Faso and Mali reaffirmed their solidarity with the ruling military in Niamey.
In addition to the Malian Ministers of Territorial Administration, Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, and Defense, Camara Sadio, Burkina Faso was represented by the Minister of Territorial Administration, Magistrate Emile Zerbo, the Minister Delegate for Security, Mahamadou Sana, and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Colonel Célestin Simporé.
They were able to confirm to the President of the National Council for the Defense of the Fatherland (CNSP), General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the support of the Transitional Presidents of Burkina, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, and Mali, Colonel Assimi Goïta, according to the “head” of the delegation, Abdoulaye Maïga.
He reiterated the “categorical refusal” of Burkina and Mali “to implement the illegal, illegitimate and inhumane sanctions imposed on the people of Niger” by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The most important thing, the Malian government spokesman insisted, “is to reaffirm the active, effective and full participation of Mali and Burkina in self-defense operations in the event of aggression by ECOWAS against the people of Niger.”
He noted that Burkina and Mali had “carefully considered” their position on Niger, and recalled that the three countries were still dealing with the “negative consequences” of “NATO’s dangerous adventure in Libya.”
Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga called on the regional body’s leaders to “address these ultimatums to the terrorist groups” instead of the coup leaders.
“I think ECOWAS has the wrong target. These ultimatums should be addressed to the terrorist groups. We’ve been waiting for this for 10 years. We’ll be very happy if these ultimatums are addressed to the terrorist groups,” he said.
The visit comes one day after the expiration of the ultimatum given by ECOWAS to the CNSP for the release and reinstatement of President Bazoum.
On Sunday, the Niger junta declared that it had observed a “preliminary deployment” of ECOWAS troops in “two Central African countries” to take part in the “war” against Niger and announced the closure of airspace from August 6 until further notice.
The chiefs of staff of (ECOWAS) met in Abuja from Wednesday, August 1 to Friday, August 3 to define the plan for a military intervention, which is not, however, the first option of the community organization.
The current ECOWAS chairman, Nigeria’s Bola Ahmad Tinubu, has summoned his colleagues to a new summit on Thursday August 10th to discuss the political situation in Niger.
SD/ac/lb/abj/APA