Mali and Burkina Faso stand with Niger, strongly warn against intervention

The governments of Mali and Burkina Faso issued the following joint statement on the political situation in Niger on 31 July 2023.

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The transitional government of Burkina Faso and Mali have learnt from reports in the press the conclusions of an extraordinary summit of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) and the West African Economic and Monetary Fund (UEMOA) held on 30 July 2023 in Abuja on the political situation in Niger.

The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali:

1. Express their brotherly solidarity and that of the peoples of Burkina Faso and Mali with the brotherly people of Niger, who have responsibly decided to take control of their destiny and to exercise full sovereignty before history;
2. Denounce the persistence of these regional organisations in imposing sanctions that worsen the suffering of populations and jeopardise the spirit of Pan-Africanism;
3. Refuse to implement these illegal, illegitimate and inhumane sanctions against the people and authorities of Niger;
4. Warn that any military intervention against Niger would be considered as a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali;
5. Warn that any military intervention against Niger would lead to the withdrawal of Burkina Faso and Mali from Ecowas, and the adoption of self-defence actions in support to the armed forces and people of Niger;
6. Warn of the disastrous consequences of a military intervention in Niger, which could destabilise the entire region, as did Nato’s unilateral intervention in Libya, leading to the spread of terrorism in the Sahel and west Africa.

The Transitional Governments of Burkina Faso and Mali are deeply shocked and surprised by the contrast observed between, on the one hand, the speed and adventurous attitude of some west African leaders wishing to use armed force to restore constitutional order in a sovereign country, and on the other hand, the lack of action, indifference and passive complicity of these organisations and political leaders in helping states and peoples who have been victims of terrorism for a decade and abandoned to their fate.

In this context, the transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali call on all active forces to be ready and mobilised to support the people of Niger in these dark times for Pan-Africanism.

May God bless Africa and protect Africans!