Following a move by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Russia has warned the bloc against using military intervention in Niger Republic, saying it could escalate the crisis.
The Informant247 had reported that the leaders of ECOWAS member states on Thursday, met in Abuja, where it resolved to deploy a “standby force” in a bid to restore constitutional democracy to Niger and reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
ECOWAS chairperson and Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, had said during the summit that “no option is off the table, including the use of force as a last resort”.
Russia however says a military solution to the crisis could lead to a “protracted confrontation”.
“We believe that a military solution to the crisis in Niger could lead to a protracted confrontation in that African country, and to a sharp destabilisation of the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region as a whole,” the Russian foreign ministry said.
Meanwhile, BBC reports that there is heightened concern over the health and safety of Bazoum, who has been in custody since the military seized power on July 26.
Josep Borrell, European Union (EU) foreign policy chief, said Bazoum and his family have been “deprived of food, electricity and medical care for several days”.
Volker Turk, United Nations (UN) rights commissioner, said he had received credible reports that the conditions of Bazoum’s detention “could amount to inhuman and degrading treatment”.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Bazoum had told them this week that he and his family were being treated in an “inhuman and cruel” way.
“My son is sick, has a serious heart condition, and needs to see a doctor,” HRW quoted Bazoum as disclosing.