By Chris Muhizi for MCN.
Nigeria cut electricity supplies on Wednesday to increase pressure on the leaders of the country’s coup, prompting the regional bloc of West Africa to declare a military intervention in junta-ruled Niger “the last resort.”
Abdel-Fatau Musah, Ecowas commissioner for political affairs, peace, and security, said that using military force was the absolute last option available and the ultimate resort. Nevertheless, he added, “We must be ready for the eventuality.” “We need to show that we can do more than just bark at people.
Ahead of anticipated protests on Thursday in the city, France has requested that the new junta in Niger “fully guarantee” the safety of its embassy in Niamey.
After last week’s coup, the US and UK ordered the evacuation of some staff from their embassies in Niger, despite the fact that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the White House was committed to restoring the government of Niger.
In the conflict with local Islamist insurgents, Niger is a crucial ally of the West. For fear that it might give the militants room to advance, foreign powers have denounced the coup.
According to a statement from the state department’s press secretary, Matthew Miller, “given the ongoing developments in Niger and out of an abundance of caution, the Department of State is ordering the temporary departure of non-emergency US government personnel and eligible family members from the US embassy in Niamey,” adding that the mission would remain open.
Additionally, the UK Foreign Office said that it was immediately cutting back on diplomatic employees “due to the current security situation”.
Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani stated in a televised speech that the junta “rejects these sanctions entirely and refuses to give into any threats, wherever they come from.”
In order to defeat those who want to inflict unimaginable misery on our hard-working masses and destabilize our country, Tchiani added, “We… call on the people of Niger as a whole and their unity.”
Following military coups in member nations Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, as well as an attempted coup in Guinea-Bissau, in the past two years, Ecowas has tried to stop a democratic backslide in west Africa and declared that coups would no longer be permitted.
Ahead of anticipated protests on Thursday in the city, France has requested that the new junta in Niger “fully guarantee” the safety of its embassy in Niamey.
