The relationship between Nigeria and her neighbour Niger may break down soon as the government of two nations continue to be at daggers drawn after the Nigerien democratic government was overthrown by the military.
In a latest statement by the Nigerien government, it alleged that Nigeria’s action since the change of guard in Niger was not representative of the Nigerian people but by a misguided few people in power acting the plot of some Western powers who meant no good.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu being the leader of the ECOWAS Council of Heads of States and Government was initially reported to have put the ECOWAS military unit (ECOMOG) force on red alert to invade Niger to wrestle power back from the military, an action which Burkina Faso and Mali said they would resist by standing with Niger to fight against.
Since the military takeover, various sanctions have been imposed on Niger by Nigeria and other ECOWAS countries and an attempt to get the sanctions lifted by ECOWAS Court was rebuffed.
Presently Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have announced their exit from the subregional body, a decision which Nigeria and other ECOWAS countries have refused to accept, claiming that for such decision to be legal it must follow a year notice to the body.
In what seems to be a possibly breakdown of diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and Niger, the Nigerien government on February 1 issued a statement condemning Nigerian government position not recognizing it’s sovereignty and freedom to join and exit any organisation at will.
The statement read: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Nigeriens Abroad expresses its surprise at the denial of reality and international law in which the Nigerian authorities seem to be moving in refusing to admit for the sovereign Republic of Niger, the ability to withdraw from regional organisation which, moreover, has been truly diverted from its noble missions and no longer meets the legitimate aspirations of the Nigerien people and all the peoples of the Alliance of Sahel States.
“Also, the Government of the Republic of Republic of Niger rejects, with serenity, the impertinent and condescending remarks contained in the press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria dated January 29, 2024. Indeed, these remarks are not nature to contribute to the necessary dialogue between our two brother countries and are, in reality, carried by a small group of individuals in the pay of foreign powers; the very ones who frustrated all efforts for a negotiated solution to the resulting crisis to the events of July 26, 2023 in Niger.”
The statement further added that: “Niger recalls that its sovereign decision taken in concert with Burkina Faso and Nali, in solidarity and unity, was carefully considered. It follows that:
“In more than a decade of security crisis in the Sahel and the fight against terrorism, ECOWAS has never demonstrated the slightest compassion towards the battered people of Burkina, Mali and Niger, even provided any significant military, material or financial support to our countries.
“By deciding, irresponsibly, to illegally and unjustly sanction Niger and to undertake military intervention against our country, ECOWAS has become a threat to all the peoples of the Sahel and its member states;
“Not only is the organisation, under the influence of certain foreign powers, no longer truly in control of its decision, but it really does not have serious solution to the crisis for Burkina, Mali and Niger.
The statement read that: “With particular regard to Nigeria’s responsibility, the Government of Niger notes, with deep regret, that history will record that the unfair, illegal, unjust and inhuman sanctions against Niger were taken under the leadership of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, current President of the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State and Government. Then, ti the irresponsible ECOWAS sanctions, Nigeria, despite our neighbourly and fraternity ties, added its own punitive sanctions, namely: cutting off the supply of electrical energy indiscriminately, blocking the supply to Niger In pharmaceutical and food products, etc.
“This attitude marked by amnesia also led Nigeria, which shelters on its territory all the fugitives of the fallen regime, to engage in an action to destabilize Niger with the complicity of certain ECOWAS States supported by France (colonial power) which, just yesterday, aimed at the partition of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to the great dismay of the sister Republic of Niger whose strong commitment during the Biafran War was decisive in the safeguarding of territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“In any case, Niger has no moral lessons, much less democracy, governance of patriotism to receive from the current Nigerian authorities. Also, Niger urges them to exercise restraint and pull themselves together so as not to endanger our age-old bonds of fraternity which fully deserve to be preserved in the best interests of our two peoples.
The statement however said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Nigeriens Abroad reaffirms the commitment of the Government of the Republic of Niger to respect the rules of international law as well as its desire to maintain sincere relations of friendship and cooperation with all countries and peoples loving peace and justice.”
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