Burkina Faso, Mali join forces with Niger coup leaders, threaten ECOWAS with war

The military governments of Burkina Faso and Mali have warned that any military intervention against coup leaders in Niger would be considered a “declaration of war” against their nations.

In a joint statement on Monday from Mali and Burkina Faso, the countries warned ECOWAS against any further interventions that would “jeopardize the spirit of Pan-Africanism” and threatened a withdrawal from the regional bloc.

“The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali express their fraternal solidarity to the people of Niger, who have decided with full responsibility to take their destiny in hand and assume the fullness of their sovereignty before history,” the military governments of the two countries said.

“Any military intervention against Niger would be tantamount to a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali,” they warned, adding that such a move could result in “disastrous consequences” that “could destabilize the entire region”.

The Burkinabe and Malian military authorities also said they “refuse to apply” the “illegal, illegitimate and inhumane sanctions against the people and authorities of Niger”

Recall that in an ECOWAS extraordinary session on Sunday, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, its chairperson, in Abuja, a resolution was reached to impose several sanctions on Niger over the military coup.

ECOWAS also issued a one-week ultimatum for the coup plotters to hand over power to the democratically elected government.

The decision comes days after President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic was deployed by the bloc to Niger to assess the situation.

Tinubu had strongly condemned the coup, saying ECOWAS would not tolerate any anti-democratic acts.

Tinubu also assured that the union will do everything to ensure that peace returns to Niger and the region at large.