(United Nations) “We will not stand idly by” in the event of military intervention in Niger to restore constitutional order after the coup, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop warned on Saturday from the podium of the ‘UN.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has for several weeks threatened the perpetrators of the July 26 putsch with military intervention to restore the overthrown president, Mohamed Bazoum.
“Mali remains strongly opposed to any ECOWAS military intervention,” said Abdoulaye Diop, representing the Malian junta at the UN General Assembly.
“Any military intervention in Niger, I was going to say any aggression, any invasion of this country, constitutes a direct threat to the peace and security of Mali, but also to the peace and security of the region, and will necessarily have serious consequences. We will not stand idly by,” he said.
Mali signed a defensive alliance a week ago with Niger and Burkina Faso which provides for mutual assistance in the event of an attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the three military-led countries.
Once again attacking France and “neo-colonial domination”, Abdoulaye Diop also addressed a “special mention” to Russia “for its active solidarity and reliable commitment both on the bilateral level than multilateral”.
The junta has made sovereignty its mantra, broken the alliance with France and its partners in the fight against jihadism, to turn militarily and politically towards Russia.
In this context, she pushed the UN peacekeeping mission (Minusma) towards the exit, which must complete its express withdrawal by the end of the year.
“The government of the Republic of Mali does not plan to extend this deadline,” warned the minister.
Since 2012, Mali has been confronted with the spread of jihadists and a profound security, humanitarian and political crisis. And the north of the country is experiencing a resumption of hostilities, which coincides with the ongoing withdrawal of Minusma.
“The government reassures the Malian population and the international community that all measures have been taken to ensure the continuity of state services after the departure of Minusma,” assured Mr. Diop.
“The government of the Republic of Mali is more determined than ever to exercise its sovereignty, establish its authority, all its authority over the entire national territory.”