Niamey, Aug. 15, 2023 – The Niger military Junta has recalled the country’s ambassador to Ivory Coast.
This was because the Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara said he would support the military intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Spokesman for the junta, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, said the ambassador had returned to Niamey for consultations.
In an address on national TV, Abdramane said Ouattara’s wish was to see illegal and senseless aggression against Niger enforced, RFI reported.
Outtara made the remarks after he returned to Cote d’Ivoire from a summit in Nigeria where leaders of the 15-nation ECOWAS decided to activate the bloc’s standby force for a possible military response to the coup.
“The heads of state agreed to deploy troops from a number of countries, including Ivory Coast,” said Ouattara.
“Ivory Coast will provide a battalion and has made all financial arrangements for the operation if it is to last three months,” he added.
“Provisions will be made at the budgetary level so that our soldiers and officers who will participate in this operation do not lack anything.
“So, Ivory Coast is ready.”
RFI said in the report that it is understood that Cote d’Ivoire would provide a battalion of between 850 and 1,100 troops. (GBN)
