While they should confront each other according to the will of ECOWAS and in particular Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the military authorities of Nigeria and Niger met just a week ago with a view to resuming a collaboration in the fight against terrorism, proof according to activist and political analyst Serges Bayala alias Imhotep that Africa is capable of finding solutions to the challenges it faces.'This meeting between the Nigerien army and the Nigerien army is the type of image, symbol and message that we want to see African armies be able to send to each other.This refers to a united Africa, to an Africa capable of finding within itself the solutions to the challenges it faces," rejoiced political analyst, Serges Bayala.Nigeria's Army Chief of Staff, General Christopher Musa and his Nigerien counterpart, General Moussa Salaou Barmou, met on August 28, 2024 in Niamey, a year after General Tiani took power.The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to resume and strengthen their collaboration to ensure regional stability and security, the joint statement said.Nigeria pledged "not to destabilize Niger or any of its neighbors" while "Niger confirmed its readiness to resume active participation in the military cooperation that constitutes the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF)."After General Abdouramane Tiani took power in Niger in July 2023, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), whose presidency was held by Nigeria, had threatened to attack the country to restore the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, to power."In the context of the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region, it is this type of image of solidarity, fraternity and sharing of challenges that we want to see African armies send each other and not invectives, injunctions and messages of war against Niger," added Mr. Bayala."This image comes to heal our wounds, our injuries, our frustrations and our bitterness," he insisted.For him, African armies must increase the number of these types of meetings, rather th an spending time "defying each other for the benefit of foreign and extra-African interests, beyond the vital needs of the populations of the Sahel.""This meeting with Nigeria, leader of ECOWAS, also shows that this institution and that of the confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) can have frameworks for collaboration where they share the global challenges of the African continent," concluded the political analyst.The Confederation "Alliance of Sahel States (AES)" is a confederation created on July 6, 2024 between the three countries, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger for integration in the security, diplomatic and economic fields.Source: Burkina Information Agency
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