Mali’s military Junta declared on Monday that they stand to assist the coup leaders in Niamey, in what is thought to be a tactical move to safeguard the recent regime change in Niger.
Mali declared that they stand in defense of Niger alongside Burkina Faso and further cautioned that any foreign military action in Niamey will be viewed as a declaration of war against both countries as well as Niger.
“I warn that any military intervention against Niger will be considered as a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali,” announce Col. Abdoulaye Maiga, State Minister for Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Mali junta.
The declaration was made in response to the conclusion of a conference by the regional organisation ECOWAS, which issued the coup leaders in Niger a seven-day ultimatum to release arrested President Mohamed Bazoum and reinstate civilian rule or face consequences, with the use of military force being considered as a last resort.
Mali further criticised the ECOWAS’ ongoing sanctions against the three nations, calling them unlawful.
“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,” said Col. Abdoulaye Maiga.
The declaration came from Col. Abdoulaye Maiga, State minister for Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Mali junta, who spoke on the state television network.
The nations are run by military governments in West and Central Africa, where there have been nine successful or attempted coups since 2020.