The ultimatum set by ECOWAS to the Nigerien putschists expired on Sunday August 6, but the West African bloc did not carry out its threat to intervene militarily in Niger.
The perpetrators of the coup against President-elect Mohamed Bazoum have rejected the ultimatum and stand up to ECOWAS and France, which are demanding the reinstatement of President Bazoum in office.
Algeria, which shares a 1,000 km long border with Niger, has expressed its strong opposition to foreign military intervention in that country to restore constitutional order.
The situation in Niger constitutes a “direct threat” to Algeria, declared the President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Saturday evening during an interview with Algerian media.
For Abdelaziz Rahabi, a former minister, a foreign intervention in Niger “would affect the strategic interests of Algeria” and would weaken its army with the war of attrition that it must carry out all along its borders.
Abdelaziz Rahabi criticized ECOWAS, which he accused of serving foreign agendas by threatening to intervene militarily in Niger, a high-risk option for Algeria and the Sahel.
Crisis in Niger: Algeria reacts firmly, ECOWAS retreats
After Algeria’s virulent reaction against foreign intervention in Niger, ECOWAS ended up softening its position by now favoring diplomacy over war to resolve the Niger crisis.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who also holds the rotating presidency of ECOWAS, said on Tuesday August 8 that ” diplomacy ” was the “best way to go”.
The West African bloc is thus coming to its senses when it is due to hold an extraordinary summit on Thursday August 10 in Abuja to discuss the situation in Niger.
If ECOWAS does not rule out the use of force, this option seems to be weakening due to the opposition displayed by Algeria and the risks linked to the conflagration of the Sahel, already weakened by the chaotic situation in Libya. , itself the consequence of a Western military intervention.
In Niger, the putschists have appointed Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine as the new Prime Minister and seem to be heading towards the creation of a transitional government.
Algeria, which does not make the return of Mohamed Bazoum to power a prerequisite for the resolution of the Niger crisis, has offered its mediation for the return to constitutional order. “ If Nigeriens want our help, we are ready ,” President Tebboune said on Saturday.
