The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has received a warning from Russia over a proposed military intervention in the continuing political unrest in the Niger Republic.
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Russia issued a warning that such a move may make the crisis worse.
On Thursday, ECOWAS leaders decided to send a “standby force” to Niger in an effort to restore constitutional democracy and return ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
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President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, the ECOWAS chairperson, stated emphatically that “no option is off the table, including the use of force as a last resort.”
However, Russia warns that a military solution might result in a “protracted confrontation”.
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The Russian foreign ministry stated that “we believe that a military solution to the crisis in Niger could lead to a protracted confrontation in that African nation, as well as to a sharp destabilization of the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region as a whole.”
The coup leaders have not received official support from Russia.