Burkina Faso and Mali on Tuesday challenged the African Union Peace Council and the UN Security Council on their responsibilities regarding the unforeseeable consequences of a military intervention , envisaged by ECOWAS, in Niger.
"The Transitional Governments of Burkina Faso and the Republic of Mali appeal to the primary responsibility of the (UN) Security Council, the guarantor of international peace and security, to prevent, by all means at its disposal, provision, armed action against a sovereign State (Niger) the extent of the consequences of which would be unpredictable,” reads a joint letter from the heads of Burkinabe and Malian diplomacy, dated August 8, 2023.
Olivia Rouamba and Abdoulaye Diop, who address the President of the United Nations Security Council, used the same terms in another letter sent the same day to the President of the African Union Peace Council.
"We know we can count on the wisdom of the Security Council (and the Peace Council) to avoid, in addition to the deterioration of the security situation with the multiplication and spread of terrorist groups, a humanitarian drama, which would add to the difficulties of 'a population in legitimate expectation of support to face the many challenges it faces,' added the two authorities in the two letters.
As a reminder, soldiers overthrew Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, 2023 to protest against his management of the security crisis.
After the lifting of numerous and severe sanctions against the country, ECOWAS plans to use force to restore President Bazoum.
Burkina and Mali in a joint statement had already assured that they will bring strong hands to Niger, in the event of external aggression.
In their letters to the AU and the UN, Burkina Faso and Mali reiterated "their attachment to the search for solutions through the exclusive means of diplomacy and negotiation, which alone can guarantee peace and the stability of Niger and the region".
Source: Burkina Information Agency