Former Nigerian President Abdulsalami Abubakar, who led a mission from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Niger to negotiate with coup leaders earlier this week, announced that the visit was "very fruitful." Abubakar expressed hope for resolving the crisis through diplomatic means.
Is there an aggression? In response, Niamey has begun taking exceptional measures in anticipation of any "imminent aggression," as described by them, following ECOWAS's rejection of a proposal from Niger's ruling military council to hold elections within three years of the July coup. Nigerian Health Minister Colonel Garba Hikimi held an emergency meeting late Monday with hospital directors to discuss "activating an alternative emergency plan as soon as possible to face potential imminent aggression threatened by ECOWAS," according to official television.
Algeria
The "Algerian Official Radio" reported that the country's authorities rejected a request from France to open Algerian airspace for military intervention in Niger. The radio stated: "France is preparing to execute its threats directed at the military council in Niger regarding military intervention if President Mohamed Bazoum is not released," noting that "Algeria, which has always been against the use of force, did not respond to the French request to cross Algerian airspace to attack Niger, and its response was strict and clear."
The French military denied having requested Algeria to use its airspace for a military operation in Niger, after the Algerian official radio reported last night that the authorities rejected a French request in this regard. The Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed deep regret over what it described as "prioritizing violence in Niger instead of pursuing a political and negotiation path that allows for the peaceful restoration of constitutional and democratic order." For his part, France's Chief of Defense Staff denied that Paris had requested Algeria to use its airspace for military operations in Niger.
