The junta in Niger has sealed a military pact with the neighbouring countries of Burkina Faso and Mali.
The three countries’ foreign ministers in a joint announcement in Niger’s capital, Niamey, noted that the accord allows Mali and Burkina Faso to provide military assistance to Niger in the event of a military intervention against the new military government.
A similar agreement already exists between Burkina Faso and Mali.
Credible News reports that the junta seized power in Niger in a military coup on July 26, similar to Burkina Faso and Mali who also seized power in coups.
The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has activated a standby force and threatened use of force to restore the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
Talks between ECOWAS and the Nigerien junta took place previous weekend. The agreement which was announced also called for the three countries to take joint action against terrorist groups active in their countries and secure their borders.
For years, the countries in the Sahel region have been threatened by various terrorist militias, some of which have sworn allegiance to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State.
Under Bazoum, Niger was considered one of the last strategic partners of the West in the fight against the advance of Islamist terrorists in the Sahel.
