Niger’s military recalls ambassador to Ivory Coast for consultations

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – The military administration in Niger that deposed President Mohamed Bazoum has recalled the country’s ambassador in Ivory Coast, its spokesperson said.

The decision followed recent remarks by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara that indicated his “eagerness” to send troops to Niger for military intervention, Col. Amadou Abdramane said on national television.

Abdramane said President Ouattara’s wish was to “see this illegal and senseless aggression against Niger enforced.”

At the end of a summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on August 10 in Nigeria, the bloc’s leaders said while diplomacy was on the table as the best approach to resolve the political crisis, the military option was on the cards, and they resolved to activate the bloc’s standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger.

Briefing journalists in the Ivorian city of Abidjan after last week’s summit, President Ouattara said he had instructed the chief of staff of the Ivorian army “to start mobilizing his troops for their participation in this ECOWAS operation” and that Ivory Coast is ready to provide a battalion of 850 to 1,100 troops.