Algeria has reiterated its opposition to military intervention in Niger. Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf informed the special envoy of the Nigerian President, who chairs the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), of Algeria’s rejection of the forceful approach in handling the Niger crisis due to its severe implications for the region as a whole.
A statement from the Presidency confirmed that “By assignment from Mr. President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, Mr. Ahmed Attaf, today received the special envoy of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Babagana Kingibe, who arrived in Algeria on Friday afternoon.”
“On this occasion, Minister Ahmed Attaf received from his guest a written message addressed to the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, from his Nigerian counterpart, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as the current President of the Economic Community of West African States,” the statement added.
The visit is part of an exchange of views and consultations on developments in the Republic of Niger. In the discussions, Minister Ahmed Attaf reaffirmed Algeria’s stance against the military coup on the legitimate president in Niger, and called for his return to his constitutional post as the President of the Republic of Niger.
The head of Algerian diplomacy, according to the same source, emphasized the need to activate all diplomatic and peaceful means and to avoid resorting to force, which could only further complicate, escalate, and endanger the situation in Niger and the region as a whole.
This insistence on peaceful, diplomatic means over forceful interventions signifies Algeria’s dedication to preserving stability in the region. By rejecting the military approach, Algeria underlines the importance of upholding international law and the principles of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states, particularly during periods of crisis.
