Niger: AU not in support of military intervention

Members of the African Union Peace and Security Council were divided over a military intervention in Niger. In an emergency meeting held on August 14, 2023 and chaired by Burundi, members from the Southern and Northern parts of Africa rejected any military intervention.

The majority voted to reject proposal by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to invade Niger and chase the juntas out of power.

ECOWAS in a resolution on July 30, 2023, said it was going to send troops to Niger to maintain peace, but the junta led by Tchiani Abdouramane rejected this resolution. Neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso said it will be a ‘declaration of war’ should ECOWAS invade Niger. Meanwhile Guinea’s leader, another junta, Mamadu Dumbouya, said he does not recognize the ECOWAS resolution.

Also read: Niger: Junta says ready to talk, decry ECOWAS ultimatum – Cameroon News Agency

While the juntas have said they are ready to talk, they denounced measures put in place by ECOWAS such as sanctions that “have affected the population,” a representative told a Nigeria delegation of top Muslim leaders.

ECOWAS security chiefs are due to meet on Thursday August 17, 2023, to discuss how the intervention will be organized, but the rejection by AU peace and security council may change the tides.