A military solution to the coup in Niger would precipitate a new migration crisis, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cautioned on Thursday.
Since seizing power in July, the coup leaders have refused to accede to ECOWAS’ demand for reinstating ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, spurring the regional body to resort to negotiation without any breakthrough.
Therefore, ECOWAS has warned it is ready to send troops into Niger to restore constitutional order, if diplomatic efforts fail.
“”A military solution would be a disaster,” Tajani said as he arrived at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in the Spanish city of Toledo.
“”We need to work day by day for a diplomatic solution.”
The crisis in Niger is one of the main topics of the meeting, which would be addressed by Hassoumi Massoudou, the foreign minister of the ousted government, and Omar Touray, the President of the ECOWAS Commission.
He said, “Yes, of course, military intervention could lead to a migration crisis.
“To have a war in Niger means more people leaving the country, as in Sudan, there are more and more people leaving Sudan.”
Tajani favours an Algerian proposal this week to resolve the crisis. It involves a six-month transition period led by a civilian.
