Those behind Niger coup are terrorists – Ivorian President

President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire has unequivocally branded the masterminds behind the recent coup in Niger as terrorists. He voiced his condemnation during an extraordinary summit convened by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, where regional leaders gathered to address the escalating crisis.

President Ouattara’s strong stance emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the urgency for a collective response. He underscored that the standby force poised for deployment to Niger, as agreed upon during the summit, is a concerted effort by the West African regional bloc. He asserted that the intervention to end the military rule in Niger signifies a united endeavor and is not exclusive to any one nation, including Nigeria.

In discussions on the sidelines of the summit, President Ouattara expressed the sentiment of regional leaders, emphasizing that dialogue with the coup leaders had reached an impasse. He noted, “All the heads of state in the regional bloc thought they had exhausted all dialogue efforts with the Niger coupists.”

The Ivorian president firmly advocated for immediate action in response to what he deemed a terrorist act. He stated, “I personally consider this as a terrorist act and we cannot let this continue. We have to act.”

President Ouattara’s stance aligns with the collective decision of ECOWAS, reflecting a consensus among member states. He emphasized that the coup leaders should return to the barracks and relinquish their hold on government, underlining, “The decision of Cote d’Ivoire, which has been endorsed by all of the Heads of State, is that their place is in the barracks.”