To mediate a peaceful resolution to the conflict with the Republic of Niger, Algeria has sent its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, on a visit to the neighbouring countries of Nigeria, Benin, and Ghana. As the Niger junta has failed to reinstate overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its willingness to deploy military action. According to a report, Algeria stated that it had sent Attaf to the three ECOWAS countries in fulfilment of a directive issued by the President of the country, Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
Similarly, the Algerian Diplomacy stated that it strongly objects to any military involvement in Niger, as it is of the belief that the junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani can be reasoned with through discussion offered by the bloc. According to an announcement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its X account (formerly known as Twitter), Minister Ahmed Attaf will commence working visits to the countries of Nigeria, Benin, and Ghana as ordered by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
A discussion of the potential solutions to the problem is being held.
According to the ministry, he will meet with other leaders in other nations that are members of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) in order to discuss the crisis that is currently unfolding in Niger as well as potential solutions to the problem. The objective is to make a contribution to a political solution that’s going to spare this country and the region as a whole the implications of any potential aggravation of the situation that may occur.
In many cases of mediating and attempting to resolve international crises, Algeria has a good and distinguished track record. On August 6, Algerian President Tebboune issued a statement in which he unequivocally rejected the idea of any external military intervention in Niger, which he characterised as “a direct threat to Algeria”. Without them, there is no way to find a solution. During an interview that was shown on national television, Africa News reports that he stated that they are the first ones concerned about the matter.
Military intervention might not help the country.
The head of state of Algeria posed the question of the current state of affairs in nations that have previously been subjected to military intervention. Continuing his explanation, he gave examples of the current situations in Libya as well as Syria. Algeria, being the largest nation in Africa, shares its borders with Mali along with Libya, two nations that are currently undergoing severe crises; yet, it has refused to open a third front on its borders.
More so, Tebboune emphasised that two nations, Mali and Burkina Faso, are prepared to enter the battle with Niger and that he believes the entire Sahel would go up burning in the case of military action. The military putschists in Mali and Burkina Faso have threatened to support their neighbour Niger if it comes under attack from jihadists. However, on Saturday, the new leader of Niger, Tchiani, reassured them that military involvement would not be as easy as some would imagine.
AU has suspended its activities with the country of Niger.
Niger’s involvement in all activities of the African Union and its organs and institutions has been suspended until constitutional order is effectively restored in the nation, according to a communiqué released by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) on Tuesday. While on August 10, Ecowas revealed its intention of deploying West African troops to Niger to reinstate constitutional order after the military overthrew the elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, on July 26, whose term remains in effect.
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