Algeria on a quest to avoid an intervention in Niger

 

Algeria sends envoy on West African tour to avoid military intervention in Niger

An Algerian top diplomat began a tour of West African countries on Wednesday in a bid to find a solution following the coup in neighbouring Niger, where Algiers opposes any military intervention.

Algeria's Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf was "mandated by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune" to go on a diplomatic tour to Nigeria, Benin and Ghana, the Algerian foreign ministry said on Twitter.

He started his tour in Nigeria, where he was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar.

(Tweet)

Attaf is set to hold "consultations on the crisis in Niger and ways of dealing with it" with his counterparts in the West African countries, which form part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The West African bloc has threatened to use force to reinstate Niger's elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, who was detained by guards on July 26.

Last week it announced it had agreed an undisclosed "D-Day" for a possible military intervention if diplomatic efforts fail.  

At odds with France

Late on Monday, the Algerian state radio, which usually reflects official thinking, had reported that France had asked Algeria to use its airspace for a military operation in Niger and that such permission had been refused.

France's army immediately denied it had asked Algeria to use its airspace. 

"France's joint defence staff denies making a request to fly over Algerian territory" said a source in the French army. 

France has about 1,500 troops in Niger that were stationed there before last month's coup.

The European country has not said it would intervene militarily to overturn the military takeover. 

The whole region at risk

Algeria shares a 1,000-kilometre (600-mile) long land border with Niger.

It is Africa's largest country, and also shares borders with Libya and Mali, both in the throes of years-long conflicts.

Algiers has previously cautioned against a military solution, which Tebboune said would be "a direct threat" to his North African country.

The Algerian President stressed "there will be no solution without us (Algeria). We are the first people affected".

The African Union suspended Niger on Tuesday until civilian rule is restored and said it would assess the implications of any armed intervention.

Niger is the fourth nation in West Africa since 2020 to suffer a coup, following Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.

The juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali have said that any military intervention in their neighbour would be considered a "declaration of war" against their countries.