Russia warned on Friday against military intervention in Niger, claiming that it would lead to a sharp destabilisation of the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region as a whole.
“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.
This came a day after West African leaders said they would muster a “standby” force in their efforts to return the president toppled by a coup.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recently announced that it will deploy a standby force, saying it hopes for a diplomatic solution to the situation in Niger.
In the meantime, West African military chiefs will meet on Saturday in Ghana following a summit that ordered the deployment of a “standby force” in the effort to resolve the Niger crisis.
The talks among chiefs of staff of the Economic Community of West African States will take place in the Ghanaian capital Accra.
