Tensions in West Africa are rising after Burkina Faso and Mali said any attempt to intervene militarily in Niger, following a coup in that country, would be seen as a declaration of war on their two nations.
The President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, was overthrown in a coup last week, ostensibly over his failure to control a jihadist insurgency, as well as unhappiness over ties to Niger’s former colonial power, France.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional grouping, said in a statement that unless the military junta returned power to Bazoum it could intervene militarily. ECOWAS also said it would be implementing financial sanctions.
Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso are all currently suspended members of ECOWAS due to military coups in those countries which have overthrown democratically elected governments.
ECOWAS has often intervened militarily in member states in the past, for a variety of reasons.
The announcement by ECOWAS that military force could be used to restore democracy in Niger saw Mali and Burkina Faso release a joint statement saying that any intervention would be a ‘declaration of war’. They also said that it would ‘destabilise’ the entire region.
The region has suffered from a jihadi insurgency for some time now, while the mercenary Wagner Group, which has ties to Moscow, has also been growing its influence in the region.
Interstate wars in Africa are a relative rarity but one in the region would have series consequences.