Egypt and Algeria oppose military intervention in Niger opting for a diplomatic solution instead

EGYPT and Algeria have both expressed their opposition top proposals put forward by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) to use military force in Niger Republic  insisting that dialogue remains the best option out of the current political crisis.

On July 26, officers of the Nigerien presidential guard arrested President Mohammed Bazoum in the capital Niamey and declared him deposed. In a swift response, Ecowas leaders met in Abuja and introduced sanctions against the regime, suspending it and freezing Niger Republic's assets.

Ecowas leaders, led by Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu, gave the generals a one-week ultimatum to restore constitutional order. To enforce this, they announced the suspension of financial transactions with Niger and decreed the freezing of all service transactions, including energy transactions.

With the Nigerien regime refusing to back down, the option if using military force to remove them is now being considered but the two Arab giants Algeria and Egypt have called for restraint. Algerian president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has dispatched foreign minister Ahmed Attaf, to visit Nigeria, Benin Republic and Ghana to seek a solution to the crisis.

Mr Attaf who started the tour yesterday, is to hold consultations with his counterparts in Ecowas countries with a mandate to make a case for diplomacy, rather than military intervention. Algeria, which shares a 1,000km long land border with Niger, had previously warned against a military solution, saying it would be a direct threat.

President Tebboune said: “There will be no solution without us Algeria. We are the first people affected.”

The African Union suspended Niger on Tuesday until civilian rule is restored and also said it would assess the implications of any armed intervention. Algeria also shares borders with Libya and Mali, both in the throes of years-long conflicts and Niger is the fourth nation in West Africa since 2020 to suffer a coup, following Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.

On its part, the Egyptian government stressed the need for dialogue, contending that a military approach to the issue in Niger Republic would do the West African sub-region and the continent no good. According to the government, in as much as it is important to restore democratic governance to Niger Republic within the shortest possible time, it is also expedient not to plunge the country into a war that could affect its neighbours.