ALBAWABA - The cabinet in Burkina Faso has granted the government the go-ahead to send troops to help defend Niger against ECOWAS threat to intervene, where the military ousted President Mohamed Bazoum later in July.
"Without warmongering, it must be noted that this commitment is made to prevent and in the best interest of our fight against terrorism, a deep aspiration of the Burkinabe people," Defense Minister Colonel Maj. Kassoum Coulibaly said in a statement.
"What affects Niger’s security fundamentally affects the security of Burkina Faso" Colonel Maj. Coulibaly added.
Following threats of military intervention by a West African bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) force seeking to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger's military administration authorized troops from neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso to intervene on their side "in the event of aggression" last week.
Niger was plunged into turmoil on July 26 when General Abdourahamane Tchiani, a former commander of the presidential guard, led a military intervention that ousted Bazoum.
The military juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali have declared their strong backing for the military administration in Niger.
ECOWAS intervention threat in Niger
Earlier in August, the defense chiefs of the ECOWAS assembled in Nigeria to prepare for a coordinated response to the coup and to make plans for a potential military intervention, which they describe as the last resort.
“All the elements that would go into any eventual intervention have been worked out here and are being refined, including the timing, including the resources needed, and including how and where and when we are going to deploy such a force,” said ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah.
To meet with the military coup leaders, a group from the ECOWAS headed to Niamey, the capital of Niger. On state television a few hours later, the junta issued a warning that any military action would be greeted with "an immediate and unannounced response by Niger's defense and security forces".
On August 7th, the French flag carrier, Air France, announced the suspension of all flights to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger till August 11th, following the closure of airspace in Niger earlier this morning.
