Algeria, Egypt Warn ECOWAS, Reject Proposed Military Intervention In Niger Republic

Algeria and Egypt, two prominent nations from North Africa, have voiced their discontent regarding the suggested military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the Niger Republic.

The two countries insisted that dialogue remains the best option out of the current political crisis in the country.

SaharaReporters had reported that ECOWAS turned down the three-year transition plan proposed by Niger’s military ruler General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

Tchiani and others in a July 26 coup ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and seized power.

The Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, ordered his foreign minister, Ahmed Attaf, to Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Ghana to find a solution to the ongoing crisis.

The Foreign Minister, who began his journey on Wednesday, would meet with his counterparts in ECOWAS nations to argue for diplomacy rather than military action.

Algeria, which shares a 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) land border with Niger, had previously cautioned against a military solution, which Tebboune described as "a direct threat" to his North African country.

He said: “There will be no solution without us (Algeria). We are the first people affected.”

The African Union suspended Niger on Tuesday until civilian rule was restored and also said it would assess the implications of any armed intervention.

Algeria also shares borders with Libya and Mali, both in the throes of years-long conflicts.

Niger is the fourth nation in West Africa since 2020 to suffer a coup, following Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.

The juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali have said that any military intervention in their neighbour would be considered a “declaration of war” against their countries.

The Egyptian administration, for its part, emphasised the need of negotiation, arguing that a military solution to the Niger crisis would be detrimental to the West African sub-region and the continent.

The administration stated that although it is critical to restore democratic governance to Niger Republic as soon as possible, it is also prudent not to plunge the nation into a war that may damage its neighbours.

“Egypt boosts all efforts exerted to defuse tensions in a way that promotes the democratic order and the sovereignty and stability of Niger and prevents escalations that could shake regional security,” the foreign ministry said in a statement yesterday.

The ministry said the region (ECOWAS) could ill-afford a military operation at present and cautioned against it.

Niger’s military leader, General Tchiani, during a televised address on Saturday evening said neither the junta “nor the people of Niger want war and remain open to dialogue.”

But Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, in an interview with BBC, described General Tchiani’s proposal as unacceptable.

It was also reported that hundreds of Nigerians took to the streets over the weekend to express their support for the military regime.

Their protest coincided with ECOWAS's insistence on invading the country to flush out coup leaders if diplomacy fails to return deposed President Mohamed Bazoum to power.

The gathering took place on the same day that a government official in Niger stated that negotiations between the ECOWAS team, led by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, retd, and the junta produced little progress.

This comes as it was revealed yesterday that over 7,000 migrants are presently trapped in Niger due to border restrictions.