Any Military intervention in Niger will be considered as a declaration of War – Burkina Faso, Mali warns ECOWAS

Burkina Faso and Mali have issued a cautionary statement to ECOWAS, urging the regional body to avoid any military intervention in Niger aimed at reinstating deposed President Mohamed Bazoum. They stressed that such an action would be construed as a “declaration of war” against their own nations.

This warning originates from Burkina Faso and Mali, both of which are under military governance. Their message comes shortly after West African leaders, backed by their international allies, expressed their readiness to utilize “force” to restore the democratically elected President Bazoum and imposed economic sanctions on the Nigerien government.

During an emergency summit on Sunday, July 30, ECOWAS called for the reinstatement of Bazoum within a week, threatening to implement “all measures” necessary to reestablish constitutional order if this demand isn’t met.

In a joint statement, the governments of Burkina Faso and Mali warned that “any military intervention against Niger would be tantamount to a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali.”

They said the “disastrous consequences of a military intervention in Niger… could destabilise the entire region.”

They also said they “refuse to apply” the “illegal, illegitimate and inhumane sanctions against the people and authorities of Niger.”