The military governments of Burkina Faso and Mali have issued warnings that any military action taken against the Nigerians who led the coup last week would be viewed as a “declaration of war” against those countries.
Days, after West African leaders threatened to use force to restore Niger’s ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s neighbours, made the warning in unified remarks played out on their national broadcasters on Monday.
Meanwhile, following the coup last week in the once-French colony of Niger, France has evacuated all foreign nations who want to flee the chaotic situation in the country.
It has stated that it will assist other European citizens in leaving as well. Following the coup, there have been demonstrations against the former colonial power, and the French embassy has even come under attack. Both France and the US maintain military bases in uranium-rich Niger, which has been a crucial Western ally in the war against Islamic extremism in the Sahel.
France relocated the epicentre of its regional counterterrorism activities to Niger after Mali’s military officials decided to collaborate with the Russian Wagner mercenaries in 2021.
On Sunday, protestors screamed “Long live Russia,” “Long live Putin,” and “Down with France” in front of the French embassy in the nation’s capital, Niamey. They also set fire to the embassy complex’s walls.
The French foreign ministry said that the inability of French nationals to flee on their own due to the shutdown of Niger’s airspace also played a role in its decision to order evacuations.
Earlier, France had praised the Ecowas ultimatum, which gave the junta in Niger a week to restore elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who had been imprisoned in the Niamey presidential palace. The following day, President Mahamat Idris Déby of Chad travelled to Niger to spearhead mediation efforts on behalf of the Ecowas. He was photographed with Mr Bazoum.
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