By John Ikani
The junta in Niger, which took control through a military coup on July 26, has established a military partnership with neighbouring nations Burkina Faso and Mali.
Leaders of Burkina Faso and Mali also assumed power via coup d’états.
The foreign ministers of the three countries jointly made the announcement in Niger’s capital city Niamey on Thursday.
The agreement enables Mali and Burkina Faso to offer military support to Niger in the event of military intervention against the coup leaders.
A similar arrangement was previously put in place between Burkina Faso and Mali.
The declared accord also urges these three nations to collaboratively combat terrorist organizations operating within their territories and ensure border security.
After the July coup in Niger, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) activated a ready-to-deploy force and issued threats of intervention unless democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was reinstated and constitutional order reestablished.
Nonetheless, Diplomatic efforts have been ongoing between ECOWAS and the Nigerian junta with a view to resolving the political upheaval.
For years, the countries within the Sahel region have faced threats from diverse terrorist militias, some pledging allegiance to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State.
Under Bazoum’s leadership, Niger stood as a crucial ally in the West’s effort to counter the advancement of Islamist extremists in the Sahel.
