Niger peace move suffers setbacks as Algeria suspends mediation efforts

The Algerian government says it has suspended its intention to mediate the political crisis in Niger after the coup that removed President Mohamed Bazoum from power.

In a statement, the Algerian foreign affairs ministry noted that declarations from Nigerien authorities had raised “legitimate questions about their real willingness to follow through on their acceptance of Algerian mediation”.

The Algerian government noted that it has suspended the mediation efforts while waiting for the military regime to reinitiate their willingness to continue with the peace process.

Last month, the Algerian government announced that the military authority in Niger has accepted its offer of mediation to restore constitutional democracy in the West African country.

Algeria offered a six-month transitional period led by a civilian to resolve the political division in Niger in late August.

Algeria has repeatedly warned against military intervention in neighboring Niger following the threat by the regional ECOWAS bloc to remove the junta by force if diplomatic moves fail to yield positive results.

Niger slipped into political chaos on July 26 when Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, a former commander of the presidential guard, led a military intervention that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

The coup in Niger was triggered by internal politics but attracted international attention.

ECOWAS, the African Union, United Nations and Western countries have pressured the junta to hand over power to civilians, while Mali and Burkina Faso have vowed to defend it should ECOWAS go ahead with its plan to intervene by force.