In a show of solidarity, the transitional governments of Burkina Faso and the Republic of Mali have warned that any military intervention against the Republic of the Niger will be considered a declaration of war against them.

The two countries made this known in a joint statement late Monday, in which they expressed disappointment in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over its decision to employ military intervention in Niger.

They threatened to withdraw from the regional body if it moved ahead with its intended sanctions for Niger following its seven-day ultimatum.

READ ALSO: ECOWAS to Use Force, Sanctions to Reinstate President Bazoum If Military Doesn’t Within 1 Week

Recall that ECOWAS member states met in Abuja on Sunday and resolved to roll out a list of economic sanctions on Niger if Abdourahamane Tchiani, Niger’s military head of state, failed to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum within seven days.

In reaction, Tchiani disclosed his links with Russia, stating that Niger was awaiting military supplies from its ally.

Meanwhile, the Republic of Guinea has distanced itself from the ECOWAS sanctions imposed on Niger and declared solidarity for Nigeriens.

FULL SPEECH:

The Transitional Governments of Burkina Faso and Mali learned through the press of the conclusions of the extraordinary summits of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (UEOMA) held on July 30, 2023, in Abuja on the political situation in Niger.

The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali:

Express their fraternal solidarity and that of the peoples of Burkina Faso and Mali with the brotherly people of Niger, who have decided in full responsibility to take their destiny into their own hands.

Denounce the persistence of these regional organisations to impose sanctions aggravating the suffering of the populations and jeopardising the spirit of pan-Africanism.

Refuse to apply these illegal, illegitimate, and inhuman sanctions against the people and authorities of Niger.

Warn that any military intervention against Niger would amount to a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali;

Warn that any military intervention against Niger would result in the withdrawal of Burkina Faso and Mali from ECOWAS, as well as the adoption of self-defence measures in support of the armed forces and the people of Niger;

Warn against the disastrous consequences of a military intervention in Niger, which could destabilise the entire region, as was the unilateral NATO intervention in Libya, which was at the origin of the expansion of terrorism in the Sahel and West Africa.

The Transitional Governments of Burkina Faso and Mali are deeply indignant and surprised by the imbalance observed between, on the one hand, the celerity and the adventurous attitude of certain political leaders in West Africa wishing to use force armed forces to restore constitutional order in a sovereign country and, on the other hand, the inaction, indifference, and passive complicity of these organisations and political leaders in helping States and peoples who have been victims of terrorism for a decade and left to their fate.

In any case, the transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali invite the living forces to be ready and mobilised in order to lend a hand to the people of Niger in these dark hours of pan-Africanism.

May God bless Africa and preserve the Africans.