Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop warned today, Tuesday, August 7, 2023, of a "disaster" if the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervenes militarily in Niger to restore President Mohamed Bazoum.

Diop stated in the presence of Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister Olivia Rouamba during a ceremony aimed at strengthening bilateral relations that "the military force used in other neighboring countries or in other regions, we see its results... it is a disaster."

He added, 'We in Burkina and Mali oppose any idea of interference in internal affairs or external military intervention in response to internal political problems.'

Mali and Burkina Faso consider any intervention in Niger as a declaration of war against them.

ECOWAS and Western countries are demanding the return of constitutional order and the release of the detained president.