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Russia has warned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against military invasion of Niger Republic to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to power.
Recall that leaders of ECOWAS member states met in Abuja on Thursday and resolved to deploy a “standby force” in a bid to restore constitutional democracy to the country.
Also at the meeting, ECOWAS Chairperson and Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu stated that “no option is off the table, including the use of force as a last resort”.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Friday, the Russian foreign ministry said the military intervention in Niger could escalate the crisis and could lead to a protracted confrontation.
The ministry added that the invasion of the West African nation could lead to a sharp destabilisation of the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region as a whole.
The statement reads: “We believe that a military solution to the crisis in Niger could lead to a protracted confrontation in that African country and to a sharp destabilisation of the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region as a whole.”
Some supporters of the Niger junta, on Friday, were seen waving Russian flags as they protested at a French military base near the capital Niamey, with some chanting “down with France, down with ECOWAS”.
France and the US operate military bases in Niger, which have been used to launch operations against insurgents in the wider region.
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