(Al Jazeera Media Network) Burkina Faso and Mali have warned that any intervention in neighbouring Niger would be considered a “declaration of war” against their two countries, a signal of support for leaders of the recent coup there.
In a statement released on Monday, the governments of Mali and Burkina Faso also refused to implement what they called “illegal, illegitimate, and inhumane sanctions” against the Nigerien people and authorities.
“The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali express their fraternal solidarity – and that of the Burkinese and Malian people – 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,” the statement read.
The message comes less than a week after soldiers guarding Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum took the leader into custody on July 26, declaring they had “put an end” to his administration.
Among their complaints were the “deteriorating security situation” in Niger as well as the rising cost of living. With Bazoum overthrown, chief of the presidential guard Abdourahamane Tchiani named himself leader in a televised address.
But the international backlash was swift. On Sunday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a 15-member international organisation, decried the coup as a “hostage situation” and threatened military intervention if Bazoum was not restored to power.
“In the event the Authority’s demands are not met within one week,” ECOWAS would “take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger,” the organization said in a communiqué. It added: “Such measures may include the use of force.”
Inaugurated in 2021, Bazoum was the first Nigerien president to be democratically elected through a peaceful transition of power. Western governments such as the United States and France embraced his administration as a key ally – and source of stability – in Africa’s Sahel region.
But on Saturday, in the wake of Bazoum’s removal, the European Union announced “immediate suspension of budget support” and “all security co-operation activities.” France, the former colonial power in the region, took similar actions.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who travelled to Niger in March, said his country would consider withdrawing its assistance, which included $150 million announced during the visit.
“Our economic and security partnership with Niger – which is significant, hundreds of millions of dollars – depends on the continuation of the democratic governance and constitutional order that has been disrupted by the actions in the last few days,” Blinken said.