Algeria condemns Coup in Niger, Rejects ECOWAS Military Intervention 

The Peoples Republic of Algeria has vehemently condemned the coup de-tat in Niger with a call on the Military junta, General Abdourahmane Tchiani to return the county to constitutional order with absolute respect for democratic institutions in the country.

Addressing a press conference in Algiers, Minister of foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, Mr. Ahmed Attaf stated that, Niger has been considered as unique in the region to have anchored the principles of democracy and rule of law following its first successful democratic transfer of power between two elected presidents in the recent years.

He opined that the country has convinced the world that it has put an end to the era of military coups, five of which have marked its history.

Mr. Ahmed Attaf further noted that, Niger has embarked in paving its way towards development and welfare after previously counting among the poorest countries in the world.

He expressed resentment that Niger is back to the nightmare of coups, an era thought to be over and its page definitively folded. 

The mister used the opportunity to reaffirm the position of the President of Algeria on the occurrence.

“The condemnation and the rejection of the unconstitutional change in Niger, in line with the African Union legal framework that prohibits and rejects the unconstitutional changes of governments; and the call for the return to the constitutional order and for the respect of the democratic institutions in the country”

“The confirmation that President Mohamed Bazoum remains the legitimate president of the country and the call for enabling him to resume his duties as the legitimately elected President of Niger and the confirmation of the imperative of prioritizing the political solution while rejecting the use of force given the dire consequences that this option would lead to for Niger and for the entire region”

“The reaffirmation of Algeria’s readiness and willingness to contribute to the efforts aimed at forging the sought political solution in order to put an end to the crisis in Niger” he added.

Mr. Ahmed Attaf also clarified that, main feature of Algeria’s position regarding the crisis in Niger is that it combines in a wise and thoughtful manner the rejection of two elements: the unconstitutional change of the government and the use of force to address the crisis resulting from it.

He explained that Algeria’s conviction is deeply anchored in the fact that a middle ground solution can only be reached by providing the necessary conditions to initiate a political process so as to put an end to the crisis, in line with the highest interest of Niger and its brotherly people and the interests of all countries and peoples of the region.

The minister insists that the direct guidance of  President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his constant follow-up, Algeria initiated contacts and consultations with various actors inside and outside Niger, in order to contribute to appeasing the situation and encourage all to come together around the political solution which is the best option to put an end to the crisis and to obviate Niger and the region from its dangers.

Mr. Ahmed Attaf further revealed that, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has  dispatched two of his Special Envoys to Niger, and to three countries that are members of ECOWAS, namely Nigeria, Benin and Ghana with the aim of building a regional and international momentum around the political option to resolve the crisis in Niger, and to exclude the option of resorting to the use of force.

“Does African wisdom not believe that: “There has never been a good war or a bad peace?” he added.

He says the strong opposition to the option of the use of force to address the crisis in Niger lies in the serious, dire and certain repercussions that any military intervention will have on Niger and on the entire region, in addition to the absence of chances for this option to succeed in achieving the desired goals. 

“There is no doubt that our region’s history is filled with bitter experiences that have proven, and are still proving, the disastrous effects stemming from military interventions. We have enough lessons in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Somalia to be invoked to draw inspiration for restraint, caution and patience in dealing with the current crisis in Niger,” he emphasized 

According to  the minister, Algeria has warned its brothers in the region and its partners around the world against the consequences of prioritizing the logic of force over the logic of a political solution, the risk of feeding the seeds of a looming sectarian conflict, the risks of pushing hordes of Nigerians on the path of displacement and migration, and of the imminent threat of creating a new hotbed of conflict in the region that will provide an additional incubator for terrorism and organized crime in all its forms, and an open door to the unknown and the unaccounted for both Niger and the entire region.

“I can truthfully assure that our reservations, concerns and fears were widely shared, whether by the brotherly countries of the Economic Community of West Africa States or by the friendly countries outside the African continent. This is us to move ahead on this path and put forward new ideas, which we hope from the bottom of our hearts will facilitate reaching a political solution that preserves the unity, sovereignty, security and stability of Niger and spares us, God forbid, the option of shedding lives and sowing havoc and destruction,”  he said.

Mr. Attaf indicated that, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune affirms that a political solution to the crisis is possible and that the announcement of this initiative    to the international community is for the sake of transparency and in order to mobilize the required supports for it.

“President has designed this initiative in a spirit of flexibility and openness so as to allow it to absorb contributions, regardless of their sources, that could enrich it and strengthen its opportunities to garner support. The President of the Republic has decided to place the settlement of the crisis in Niger in a broader framework, which is the Sahel region and that this proposal is open for consultation with all brothers and partners determined to contribute to the solution of the crisis in Niger,”  he noted.

He concluded that the President has revolves around the six axes which include Strengthening of the principle of the rejection of the unconstitutional changes of governments, setting a period of six months, Political arrangements to end the crisis, guarantee, participatory approach and organization of an international conference on the development of the Sahel.

Source: Ghananewsonline.com.gh