Niger Junta Cuts Off Ties With Benin Republic For Supplying Troops To ECOWAS For Military Action

The military junta in Niger Republic has declared its intention to terminate its military agreement with neighboring Benin Republic.

This decision comes in response to allegations that Benin Republic authorized the deployment of troops within its borders for a potential military intervention by the West African regional organization known as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against Niger.

Recall that the ECOWAS has been trying to negotiate with the military leaders in Niger after the bloodless coup on July 26 where the junta toppled the Mohamed Bazoum democratic government.

However, ECOWAS, led by President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, has said that if diplomatic efforts fail, it is ready to use military force against the junta in Niger as a last resort to restore constitutional order in the country.

But the junta who have remained adamant to the ECOWAS’ diplomatic approaches, in a statement read on national television on Tuesday said that Benin had "authorised the deployment of soldiers, mercenaries, and war materials" in the context of the possible ECOWAS intervention, Reuters reports.

As a result, the new Nigerien authorities "decide to renounce the military cooperation agreement (with Benin)," it said.

But there was no immediate response from Benin, and ECOWAS has not shared any details about possible deployments, while Niger last week said talks with the bloc continued.

President Tinubu has reportedly suggested that a nine-month transition back to civilian rule could satisfy regional powers but Niger's junta previously proposed a three-year timeline which ECOWAS rejected.