Mali and Burkina Faso juntas send military delegation to Niger after ECOWAS deadline lapse
Mali and Burkina Faso juntas stand in solidarity with Niger as their military delegation is set to arrive in Niamey on Monday
Mali and Burkina Faso juntas stand in solidarity with Niger as their military delegation is set to arrive in Niamey on Monday.
A united official delegation from Mali and Burkina Faso is headed to coup-torn Niger as a sign of unity amongst the three junta-ruled countries.
The delegation, announced by the Malian army, is expected to arrive in Niger on Monday, according to Niger’s foreign ministry.
Niger coup leaders defied a Sunday deadline from the West African bloc Ecowas to reinstate democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum or face possible military action.
Mali and Burkina Faso, where the military also took power by force in 2020 and 2022, warned in a joint statement that they would consider military intervention as a declaration of war.
Ecowas gave the military officers until Sunday night to release Bazoum from his residence, where members of the presidential guard have been holding him since 26 July.
With the deadline passed, Ecowas defence chiefs said they had agreed on a possible military action plan.
However, a source told the French press agency AFP that an immediate military intervention to restore Niger’s toppled president was not envisaged.
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A summit of the leaders of its member countries will take place in the next few days to decide, the source added.
Meanwhile, Niger has closed its airspace due to the “threat of intervention” as the junta defied a deadline from the West African bloc ECOWAS to reinstate President Bazoum.
The military commanders sealed off the country’s airspace until further notice noting that any attempt to violate the country’s airspace would meet with an energetic and immediate response.
“Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighbouring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed from this day on Sunday… for all aircraft until further notice,” said the junta, in a statement which was released shortly before the deadline was crossed.
“Any attempt to violate the country’s airspace would meet with an energetic and immediate response”, the statement further read.
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