West News Wire: Any military intervention in Niger, according to the president of Algeria, would pose a direct threat to his nation and be “completely rejected.”
Abdelmadjid Tebboune encouraged a peaceful settlement to the ongoing political crisis in Niger, which was brought on by a military coup that removed the country’s elected president last month, in an interview with Ennahar TV.
He reiterating Algiers’ support for “constitutional order” and desire to assist in “returning to this order.”
President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger was detained by members of the presidential guard on July 26. Later that day, a group of soldiers declared the overthrow of the government on national television.
General Abdourahamane Tchiani, commander of the presidential guard of Niger, assumed control of a transitional administration two days later.
The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), a regional organisation, ordered the coup’s organisers one week to “restore constitutional order” or risk military action on July 30.
The deadline is slated to end on Sunday night, and defence chiefs from Ecowas finalised an intervention plan on Friday.
A military conflict might destabilise the Sahel area, according to Algeria, which has requested calm along their 950 km border with Niger.
Like China and Russia, the North African nation has urged for talks to ease tensions despite its opposition to the coup.
Niger’s western neighbours, Mali and Burkina Faso, declared that a military intervention would be viewed as a “declaration of war” against their countries and that they would support the coup leaders.
Meanwhile, a coup leader has asked for help from Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, according to the Associated Press.
The Wagner Group, a private military company based in Russia, has been making significant inroads into Africa, becoming an important vehicle for Moscow’s strategic reach into the continent.
Established by Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, who until recently was known for his close ties to the Kremlin, the Wagner Group gained notoriety for its covert military operations and expansive trade in mining and weapons procurements, including in Mali, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya and Syria.
