Following Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara's remarks about the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decision to initiate a military operation in Niger, the rebel-led government of Niger has taken action. According to a statement from Colonel Amadou Abdraman, a representative of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland formed after the coup d'état, the rebel government has "completely rejected the statements made by President Alassane Ouattara... and has consequently decided to recall Niger's ambassador in Abidjan for consultations."
Ouattara had announced on August 10, upon his return from the ECOWAS summit in Abuja, that the member states of the organization had agreed to launch a military intervention in Niger "as soon as possible." In response, the rebel leaders have put the army on alert, considering ECOWAS' intentions for an intervention. Simultaneously, Ali Lamine Zeine, the Prime Minister of the rebel-led government, expressed readiness to initiate negotiations with representatives from ECOWAS.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Vincent van Zeijst/Creative Commons 4.0
Based on materials from TASS