In a move considered a clear declaration of support for the recent regime change in Niger, Mali’s military Junta announced on Monday that they stand to support the coup leaders in Niamey in the event of a military intervention by ECOWAS, thereby expanding further the scope of a likely military confrontation in the Sahel.
In a speech read out on Mali’s national television station, State Minister for Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Col. Abdoulaye Maiga, the government warned that “Any military intervention against Niger would amount to a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali. ”
The Malian government said that they stand together with Burkina Faso to defend Niger and further warned that any foreign military intervention in Niamey will be considered a declaration of war on both nations with Niger.
The announcement was in response to the outcome of the ECOWAS Extraordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government on the political situation, held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, that gave a 7-day deadline to Niger’s coup leaders to free detained president Mohamed Barzoum and restore civilian rule or face consequences, with the likelihood of military force being an option. The Malian government also denounced the persistent sanctions by the ECOWAS upon the three countries calling them illegal.
The statement read; “The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali, One: have expressed their fraternal solidarity of the people of Mali and Burkina Faso with their brothers in Niger who have decided of their own accord to take their destiny in hand and to assume their sovereignty. Two: Denounce the persistence of the regional organisations to apply sanctions that aggravate the suffering of the population and imperil the spirit of PanAfricanism. Three: Refuse to apply these illegal, illegitimate and inhumane sanctions against the Nigerien people and authorities.”
