On RFI this Thursday, August 3rd, Benin, through its Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed its position on the situation in Niger. Olushegun Bakari stated that before resorting to force, ECOWAS wants to exhaust peaceful avenues.
The Beninese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Bakari, spoke out on the coup d’état that occurred on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Niger. According to the top Beninese diplomat, ECOWAS is determined to restore constitutional order as it is a hostage situation. “We are not dealing with a coup d’état, but a hostage situation,” says Olushegun Bakari.
According to the Beninese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Benin is ready to involve its army when ECOWAS decides on a military intervention to restore Nigerien institutions.
But pending the possibility of a military intervention, which is one of the decisions made by the sub-regional organization during the extraordinary summit it held on Sunday, July 30th. At the end of this extraordinary summit, Olushegun Bakari pointed out that peaceful avenues will be exhausted before the use of force.
The minister admits that he personally would not have wished for the use of force to restore constitutional order in Niger, although he acknowledges that it might become necessary.
“An ultimatum has been given, and before that, all peaceful possibilities will be used.”
Before any military intervention in Niger, good offices missions are currently underway to bring the “putschists” to reason, according to the Beninese minister. “An ultimatum has been given, and before that, all peaceful possibilities will be used,” he said
Note that in the face of the ECOWAS threat against the military authorities, Niger has received support from several countries, including Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso, who, in a joint statement, have warned against ECOWAS.
Indeed, Bamako and Ouagadougou warn that “any military intervention against Niger would be considered a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali.” Likewise, the two countries led by Colonel Assimi Goïta and Captain Ibrahim Traoré also warn that “any military intervention against Niger would result in Mali and Burkina Faso’s withdrawal from ECOWAS, as well as the adoption of legitimate defense measures in support of the armed forces and the people of Niger.”
