The coup leaders in Niger Republic have cut diplomatic relations with Nigeria, France, Togo and the United States as the negotiations with an ECOWAS delegation failed to achieve results.
Following the severance of diplomatic relations, the coup leaders also announced on National television the termination of the contracts of Niger Republic Ambassadors in the affected countries .
In a quick response, Paris said only a legitimate government could cut diplomatic ties.
Niger’s elected President Mohamed Bazoum is detained by the coup makers, who overthrew him on 26 July 2023 and has held him captive in the Presidential Palace in Niamey ever since.
Nigeria, current Chairman, Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government had sent a delegation which met with some of the coup leaders on Thursday.
Nigeria has also announced the cut of essential electricity supply to Niger in addition to the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS on the country plus a seven-day ultimatum given the coupists to release and reinstate Mohamed Bazoum.
There was anti- Nigerian and Western protests in Niamey, the Niger capital on Thursday.
On Friday, President Bola Tinubu sent a letter to Nigeria’s National Assembly seeking its approval to implement the ECOWAS decisions and mobilisation of Nigeria’s armed forces for possible military intervention in Niger.
The letter also mentioned a ban on commercial flights to and from Niger and movement of goods from Nigeria to Niger.
This raises and accentuates the optics for possible military confrontation and the escalation of the Niger crisis even as France and other Western countries begin evacuation of their citizens from Niger.
The Niger coupists might be testing the resolve of the international community at grave risks to themselves and regional peace and security.
However, defence experts and analysts have warned against potential catastrophic consequences and the spiralling of the conflict beyond control through kinetic intervention.
This will exacerbate the insecurity and dire socio-economic situation in the politically restive ECOWAS and Sahel regions.
(Adapted from Century Post)
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