https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230816/war-in-niger-would-help-nato-to-plunder-our-resources-says-senior-malian-official-1061388844.html
War in Niger Would Help NATO 'to Plunder Our Resources', Says Senior Malian Official
War in Niger Would Help NATO 'to Plunder Our Resources', Says Senior Malian Official
Sputnik Africa
In July, Niger's military announced that President Mohamed Bazoum had been removed from power. Leaders from Western countries and the regional organization of... 16.08.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-08-16T18:42+0200
2023-08-16T18:42+0200
2023-08-16T18:42+0200
sub-saharan africa
niger
mali
economic community of west african states (ecowas)
russia
libya
north atlantic treaty organization (nato)
france
sahel
west
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"ECOWAS is being held hostage by these heads of state who have the support of France and the United States," an official of Mali's Transitional Council told Sputnik Africa, in the face of a possible operation against Niger. "Not all ECOWAS heads of state have taken this decision" in favor of the use of force, he noted.While ECOWAS had not ruled out the use of force in Niger, Russian and Malian leaders Vladimir Putin and Assimi Goita, stressed the importance of a peaceful settlement during their telephone conversation on Tuesday."It's quite normal that Mali, Burkina Faso, but also Guinea" don't want "a war in a brother country, in a country with which we share borders", says the official. He recalled a "bad experience and a bad memory of NATO's intervention in Libya in 2011, the consequences of which are still being felt today in all the Sahel countries".'Terrorists brought in from Syria to destabilize the Sahel'"The terrorists in the Greater Sahel are elements that are partly financed by France", the Malian official went on to point out. These elements "have been brought in from Syria and other countries via NATO countries to destabilize the Sahel", he added.In case of war in Niger, "this will facilitate the work of terrorists who will help NATO countries and others to plunder our resources", as they are doing in Libya today "with impunity". Aligning himself with Vladimir Putin, for whom NATO's intervention in Libya has put Mali and CAR under the sway of terrorist groups, Ouattara stresses that "everything that is happening today is the direct consequence of NATO's intervention in Libya."French cynicism knows no bounds".Fousseynou Ouattara also recalled the words of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He had once apostrophized his French counterpart "to tell him that today, you are asking for our support, so that you can intervene in the Sahel against terrorists that you yourselves armed in Libya against Gaddafi". The head of French diplomacy replied, "c'est la vie" (that's life)."If Russia doesn't say its word, terrorism will be established in the Greater Sahel for a very long time," said Mr.Ouattara.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230802/1060998835.html
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230815/mali-sees-potential-ecowas-intervention-in-niger-as-cowardly-form-of-neocolonialism-1061353079.html
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230815/wests-reaction-to-niger-coup-hypocritical-lavrov-1061344357.html
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niger, mali, economic community of west african states (ecowas), russia, libya, north atlantic treaty organization (nato), france, sahel, west
niger, mali, economic community of west african states (ecowas), russia, libya, north atlantic treaty organization (nato), france, sahel, west
War in Niger Would Help NATO 'to Plunder Our Resources', Says Senior Malian Official
In July, Niger's military announced that President Mohamed Bazoum had been removed from power. Leaders from Western countries and the regional organization of the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) condemned the coup. In early August, ECOWAS countries adopted a plan in case of military intervention in Niger.
"ECOWAS is being held hostage by these heads of state who have the support of France and the United States," an official of Mali's Transitional Council told Sputnik Africa, in the face of a possible operation against Niger.
"The declaration by certain ECOWAS presidents is unconscious," said Fousseynou Ouattara, Vice-Chairman of the Defense and Security Commission of Mali's Transitional Council.
"Not all
ECOWAS heads of state have taken this decision" in favor of the use of force, he noted.
While ECOWAS had not ruled out the use of force in Niger, Russian and Malian
leaders Vladimir Putin and Assimi Goita, stressed the importance of a peaceful settlement during their telephone conversation on Tuesday.
"It's quite normal that Mali, Burkina Faso, but also Guinea" don't want "a war in a brother country, in a country with which we share borders", says the official. He recalled a "bad experience and a bad memory of NATO's intervention in Libya in 2011, the consequences of which are still being felt today in all the Sahel countries".
"We thank President Putin for having said his piece, because what he said will be a stabilizing factor and will cool a lot of hot heads," added Fousseynou Ouattara.
'Terrorists brought in from Syria to destabilize the Sahel'
"The terrorists in the Greater Sahel are elements that are partly financed by France", the Malian official went on to point out. These elements "have been brought in from Syria and other countries via NATO countries to destabilize the Sahel", he added.
In case of war in Niger, "this will facilitate the work of terrorists who will help NATO countries and others to plunder our resources", as they are doing in Libya today "with impunity". Aligning himself with Vladimir Putin, for whom NATO's intervention in Libya has put Mali and CAR under the sway of terrorist groups, Ouattara stresses that "everything that is happening today is the direct consequence of NATO's intervention in Libya.
"An intervention in Niger would have far-reaching consequences for the Sahel. It would be a repeat of Libya," echoed Malian political and geopolitical expert Abdoul Diallo.
"French cynicism knows no bounds".
"Nato's intervention in Libya has had serious consequences in the Sahel, amplifying terrorism, banditry and crime," he told Sputnik Africa.
Fousseynou Ouattara also recalled the words of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He had once apostrophized his French counterpart "to tell him that today, you are asking for our support, so that you can intervene in the Sahel against terrorists that you yourselves armed in Libya against Gaddafi". The head of French diplomacy replied, "c'est la vie" (that's life).
"French cynicism knows no bounds", he insisted.
"If Russia doesn't say its word, terrorism will be established in the Greater Sahel for a very long time," said Mr.Ouattara.
