The putschists in Niger announced, in a statement read on national television Thursday evening, the invalidation of several military agreements concluded with France, especially related to the positioning of the French battalion and the status of the soldiers present in the context of the battle against the jihadists.
A member of the coup military council said that in the face of France’s position and its reaction towards the situation in Niger, the National Council for the Protection of the Homeland decided to nullify the cooperation agreements with this country in the field of security and defense.
The perpetrators of the military coup in Niger also announced, in the statement, the termination of the duties of their country’s ambassadors to France, the United States, Nigeria and Togo, at a time when international pressure is mounting to push for the return of constitutional order to the country.
A member of the coup military council said, “The duties of the ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Republic of Niger to the French Republic, Nigeria, the Togolese Republic and the United States have been terminated”.
The coup military council added that they would immediately respond to any aggression or attempted aggression against their country by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), three days before the end of the deadline given by the organization for the return of constitutional order in Niger.
A member of the coup military council said, “Any aggression or attempted aggression against the state of Niger will witness an immediate response and without warning by the Nigerien defense and security forces”.
For its part, Mauritania announced that it would study any request to participate in the military option against the putschists in Niger if it was reached by the Economic Community of West African States “ECOWAS”.
“Mauritania strongly condemns the ongoing coup attempt in Niger and opposes any unconstitutional change, and hopes to return as soon as possible to the constitutional order,” said the official spokesman for the government, Minister of Oil and Minerals Nani Ould Achraouqa.
He added that his country hadn’t received a request to participate in any military intervention in Niger, and that it would study it if it was received from the Economic Community of West African States, as required by the supreme interest of Mauritania above all.
He made it clear that the Mauritanian president, whose country chairs the Group of Five Sahel countries, is closely following developments in Niger with his African counterparts.
