ECOWAS ultimatum: Mali, Burkina Faso pledge support for Niger

* Threaten to withdraw ECOWAS membership

* Expect Russian support

* Niger suspends export of Uranium to France

By Jon Egie

Mali and Burkina have threatened to withdraw their ECOWAS membership and rise up in support of Niger’s military government should the West African bloc invade the country.

The two countries where soldiers had recently ceased power expressed their support for the military takeover of power in Niger earlier this month in a joint statement on Monday, vowing to “lend a hand to the people of Niger” to fight invaders.

Mali and Burkina Faso warned that “any military intervention against Niger would amount to a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali,” the statement said.

They also said an invasion of Niger would see their immediate withdrawal from ECOWAS, as well as the adoption of self-defence measures in support of the armed forces and the people of Niger.

Berating ECOWAS and its leaders, Mali and Burkina Faso accused ECOWAS of hypocrisy.

“The Transitional Governments of Burkina Faso and Mali are deeply indignant and surprised by the imbalance observed between, on the one hand, the celerity and the adventurous attitude of certain political leaders in West Africa wishing to use force armed forces to restore constitutional order in a sovereign country, and on the other hand, the inaction, indifference and passive complicity of these organizations and political leaders in helping States and peoples who have been victims of terrorism for a decade and left to their fate,” the statement added.

It followed the weekend’s decision of ECOWAS to leave military options open for Niger should the coup plotters fail to relinquish power to democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum and return to their barracks. ECOWAS also threatened to block all trades, including banking and utility supply, with Niger, as well as blockade the country’s airspace.

Mr Bazoum was ousted from office on July 27. Soldiers immediately declared an indefinite curfew and closure of all borders,

Colonel Amadou Abdourahamane, who appeared to be among the leaders of the coup, addressed Mr Bazoum directly, saying the soldiers seized power to “put an end to the regime that you know due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance.”

However, this development has been widely condemned by international communities, the United States of America, the United Nations and ECOWAS, which is led by President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria.

Niger suspends export of Uranium to France

The military government in Niger Republic, under the leadership of General Abdourahamane Tchiani, is taking bold steps to consolidate on the Transitional regime and ward off threats of military invasion by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Accordingly, Niger on Sunday suspended export of uranium and gold to France with immediate effect.

Building up to the seven days ultimatum from the ECOWAS leaders to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger, General Tchiani noted that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to declare war against the military regime within one week. General Tchiani , however, sent a strong message to ECOWAS leaders that the military regime is looking forward to delivery of heavy weapons from Russia, which has become an ally of Niger.

General Tchiani, therefore, cautioned those collaborating with ECOWAS or the ousted Niger government, saying they are enemies.

Some stakeholders have also called for caution in the Niger crisis, noting that Guinea, Burkina Fasso, Mali, where military has succeeded in coup, may express solidarity with Niger Republic and support the military on the outbreak of war.