Mali and Burkina Faso have asked the U.N. Security Council to prevent any military action against Niger, where coupists have ignored a deadline to quit.
The two neighbouring countries, also ruled by military juntas, have pledged support for Niger if force is used against the coup plotters. They said in a letter to the United Nations Security Council that an invasion would have “unpredictable” consequences and lead to the break-up of ECOWAS.
“The Transitional Governments of Burkina Faso and the Republic of Mali appeal to the primary responsibility of the Security Council… to use all means at its disposal to prevent armed action against a sovereign state,” said the letter signed by both countries’ foreign ministers and posted on X by the Malian foreign ministry.
They said they were committed to finding solutions through diplomacy and negotiation but did not give details.
– No entry
The appeal came as the Niger junta on Tuesday denied entry to a joint delegation from the African Union, Ecowas and the UN.
The joint delegation from the AU, United Nations and ECOWAS was the latest diplomatic mission aimed at restoring constitutional order after the July 26 coup.
ECOWAS confirmed Niger’s rejection of the meeting after the military authorities informed they were unavailable for the meeting.
“As per the decision of the ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit held on 30 July 2023, the Community will continue to deploy all measures in order to restore constitutional order in Niger,” the statement reads.
ECOWAS has scheduled a meeting on Thursday to discuss a possible use of force to restore constitutional leadership in the country.
– Learn more
The junta had already snubbed meetings with a senior U.S. envoy and another ECOWAS delegation that tried to negotiate.
U.S. Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland flew to Niamey on Monday. She was also denied permission to meet with coup leader Abdourahamane Tiani or with Bazoum, who is in detention.
Earlier, ECOWAS sent a mission to Niamey led by Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Nigerian military ruler, but Tiani also refused to see him.
The coup leader, in contrast, met on Monday with a joint delegation from Mali and Burkina Faso. Both neighbouring countries are ruled by military juntas and have pledged support for the coup in Niger.
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