Elijah Ayodele, a prominent religious leader in Nigeria and the head of the Evangelical Church, has issued a plea to US President Joe Biden, urging him to refrain from interfering with Niger. Ayodele warned that failure to heed this advice could result in divine consequences.
"If the US attacks the Republic of Niger," Ayodele stated, as quoted by the Nigerian Daily Post, "it would be a satanic and terrorist act. It would imply that Joe Biden seeks to invoke the wrath of God. Niger should be allowed to shape its own destiny; that is the message from the divine to the United States. <...> The United States would face dire consequences if they proceed with an invasion."
Numerous Nigerian religious leaders and politicians are firmly convinced that the Western powers, led by France and the United States, are actively orchestrating a comprehensive conflict in West Africa by advocating for a potential military intervention in Niger through neighboring countries. Adamu Garba, a prominent figure in Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress party, voiced this concern, stating, "The West, led by France and the US, is attempting to embroil ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) in an extensive regional conflict. The initiation of a military incursion into Niger could pave the way for such a scenario."
Acting US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland recently engaged with Niger's military leadership in Niamey. The military, having deposed Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum, was cautioned by Nuland that the nation faces the risk of losing substantial amounts of military and economic aid.
Assessing Nuland's visit, French radio station RFI concludes that it yielded no definitive outcomes and offered no resolution to the ongoing crisis. RFI highlights that the visit remained inconclusive due to Nuland's inability to hold meetings with either the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, or the rebel leader Abdourahamane Tchiani.
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Photo: Houses of the Oireachtas/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS