Mali: President Assimi Goita receives an emissary from the CNSP
The President of the Malian Transition, Colonel Assimi Goïta, granted on Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023, an audience to the number two of the CNSP (National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland) of Niger, General Salifou Mody, who was on a mini-tour to Mali and Burkina Faso.
Accompanied by a delegation of five people, General Mody conveyed a message of gratitude from General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the new strongman of Niger, to Colonel Assimi Goïta for the support jointly provided by Assimi Goïta and Ibrahim Traoré to the CNSP following the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS on their country after the overthrow of Mohammed Bazoum.
The visit also aims to clarify the intentions of the new leaders of Niger. According to General Salifou Mody, calm has returned to Niamey, and the Nigeriens are freely going about their daily activities.
«We came to explain to the President of the transition, the head of state, the situation in Niger. It is a calm situation, and everyone is going about their normal activities. It was also about talking to him about the intentions of the president of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland», said General Mody after the meeting.
For the head of the Nigerien delegation, the issue of security is a current topic, and Niger intends to strengthen cooperation with Mali for a synergy of action against insecurity.
«We came to reaffirm our commitment to securing our environment, securing it through our defense and security forces», explained General Mody.
He further mentioned that the discussions also focused on ways to strengthen security cooperation «at a time when some countries are considering military intervention» in Niger.
The number two of CNSP clarified that his mini-tour is part of a complex regional context, requiring a significant level of «political consultation for the stability and preservation of the interests of the populations».
The Nigerien envoy also reiterated his gratitude to the Malian junta for their support and recognition of all efforts made in the common fight against insecurity in the Sahel.
As a reminder, President Mohammed Bazoum was overthrown on Wednesday, July 26, by soldiers of the CNSP, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, head of the presidential guard.
The reasons cited for this coup d’état were the deteriorating security situation and economic mismanagement.
In an extraordinary summit held on Sunday, July 30, in Abuja, ECOWAS imposed a number of sanctions on Niger, including the threat of military intervention in Niamey if the deposed president is not reinstated by Sunday.
This measure is strongly opposed by Mali and Burkina Faso, who have warned that they would consider military intervention in Niger as a “declaration of war” against their own countries.
Similarly, Guinea has distanced itself from ECOWAS’ position, refusing to “implement these illegitimate and inhumane sanctions against the brotherly people and authorities of Niger, and urging ECOWAS to reconsider its stance.”
Conakry believes that military intervention would instead lead to “a human disaster with consequences that could go beyond the borders of Niger.”
Patrice GNATEPE
