Amid the escalating crisis in Niger, Russia has issued a stern caution to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against pursuing a military intervention.
As ECOWAS leaders convened in Abuja on Thursday, their discussions revolved around deploying a “standby force” to restore constitutional democracy in Niger and reinstate deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.
ECOWAS Chairperson and Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, underscored during the summit that all options were on the table, including the potential use of force as a last resort.
However, Russia’s perspective diverges, saying that opting for a military solution could lead to a “protracted confrontation.”
The differing viewpoints among ECOWAS members and Russia introduce further complexity to the ongoing crisis, as the situation continues to evolve.
“We believe that a military solution to the crisis in Niger could lead to a protracted confrontation in that African country, and to a sharp destabilisation of the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region as a whole,” the Russian foreign ministry said.
Russia has not formally backed the coup leaders.
On Friday however, some supporters of the Niger junta were seen waving Russian flags as they protested at a French military base near the capital Niamey, with some chanting “down with France, down with ECOWAS”.
France and the US operate military bases in Niger which have been used to launch operations against insurgents in the wider region.
Meanwhile,BBC reports that there is heightened concern over the health and safety of Bazoum, who has been in custody since the military seized power on July 26.
Josep Borrell, European Union (EU) foreign policy chief said Bazoum and his family have been “deprived of food, electricity and medical care for several days”.
