Niger coup plotters request help from the Wagner group.
The military council formed by the coup plotters in Niger has requested the help of the military contractor Wagner to deal with a possible foreign military intervention.
The Associated Press news agency, quoting Wasim Nasr, a journalist, and researcher of the Western think tank “Sofan Center”, claimed that the coup plotters ruling Niger are on the eve of the ECOWAS bloc’s deadline for the release of the ousted president, Mohammad Bazoum. The private military company “Wagner” has asked for help.
Wasim Nasr claimed to the Associated Press that General “Salifo Modi”, one of the leaders of the Niger coup, recently visited Mali and contacted an official of the Wagner company. This analyst said, three sources affiliated with the country of Mali and a French diplomat confirmed the meeting of these two people. “They (Niger coup d’états) need Wagner to ensure they remain in power, and this military group is also considering their request,” he said.
A Western military official, who did not reveal his name, also claimed to the Associated Press that the West is aware of the reports about the request of the Niger Military Council from the Wagner Group for assistance.
The “Economic Community of West African States” or “ECOWAS” a week ago gave the Niger coup plotters a deadline of Sunday this week to release Mohammed Bazoum and return him to the presidency.
On Friday, the military leaders of ECOWAS members approved a plan for military intervention against the coup plotters in Niger and asked their armies to prepare the necessary resources for this intervention. They made this decision after a mediation team sent by the bloc to Niger on Thursday was not allowed to enter the capital or meet with Niger’s coup leader Abdelrahman Tichiani.
The Nigerian Senate on Saturday advised the president of the country, who is the current head of the ECOWAS bloc, to consider other options other than resorting to force for the return of the previous government of Niger to power, and from what is known as “the close relations between Nigerians and Nigerians”. Read and benefit.
On a visit to Mali, which is controlled by a military council similar to Niger’s, General Modi warned of ECOWAS military intervention, Niger state television reported on Friday, saying Niger would do whatever it could to become “a Libya”.
