Niger allows Mali, Burkina Faso troops to enter its territory in case of attack

25 August 2023 - 09:47 By Tiemoko Diallo
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Trucks carrying food, humanitarian aid and industrial equipment wait due to sanctions imposed by Niger's regional and international allies in the border town of Malanville, Benin, on August 18 2023.
Trucks carrying food, humanitarian aid and industrial equipment wait due to sanctions imposed by Niger's regional and international allies in the border town of Malanville, Benin, on August 18 2023.
Image: REUTERS/Coffi Seraphin Zounyekpe

Niger has authorised Mali and Burkina Faso's armed forces to intervene on its territory in case of an attack, the countries said in a joint statement on Thursday, a possible sign the junta in Niger plans to keep resisting regional pressure to stand down.

The main West African bloc Ecowas has been trying to negotiate with the coup leaders but warned it is ready to send troops into Niger to restore constitutional order if diplomatic efforts fail.

Any escalation risks further destabilising the insurgency-torn region as Niger's junta-led neighbours, Mali and Burkina Faso, have said they would back Niger in any conflict with Ecowas.

On Thursday, the three allies' foreign ministers said they had met in the Nigerien capital Niamey to discuss boosting co-operation on security and other joint issues.

The statement said the ministers welcomed the signing on Thursday by Niger junta leader Gen Abdourahamane Tiani of two orders “authorising the defence and security forces of Burkina Faso and Mali to intervene on Nigerien territory in the event of an attack”.

“The Burkinabe and Malian ministers ... reiterated their rejection of an armed intervention against the people of Niger which will be considered as a declaration of war,” it said.

Reuters


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