ALGIERS: Algeria’s top diplomat began a tour of West African countries Wednesday in a bid to find a solution following the coup in neighboring Niger, where Algiers opposes any military intervention.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf was “mandated by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune” to go on a diplomatic tour to Nigeria, Benin and Ghana, the Algerian foreign ministry said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
He is set to hold “consultations on the crisis in Niger and ways of dealing with it” with his counterparts in the West African countries, which form part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The West African bloc has threatened to use force to reinstate Niger’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, who was detained by guards on July 26.
Algeria, which shares a 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) long land border with Niger, has previously cautioned against a military solution, which Tebboune said would be “a direct threat” to his North African country.
He stressed “there will be no solution without us (Algeria). We are the first people affected.”
The African Union suspended Niger on Tuesday until civilian rule is restored and said it would assess the implications of any armed intervention.
Algeria — Africa’s largest country — also shares borders with Libya and Mali, both in the throes of years-long conflicts.
Niger is the fourth nation in West Africa since 2020 to suffer a coup, following Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.
The juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali have said that any military intervention in their neighbor would be considered a “declaration of war” against their countries.
Algeria FM on West Africa tour to discuss Niger crisis
https://arab.news/bnnne
Algeria FM on West Africa tour to discuss Niger crisis
- Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf goes on diplomatic tour to Nigeria, Benin and Ghana
Syrian government foils Daesh plot to attack churches and New Year celebrations
- Bomber kills soldier in Aleppo, detonates explosives injuring 2 others
ALEPPO, DAMASCUS: The Syrian Interior Ministry announced on Thursday that it had thwarted a Daesh plot to carry out suicide attacks targeting New Year celebrations and churches, particularly in Aleppo.
The ministry said in a statement that, as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts and careful monitoring of Daesh cells in cooperation with partner agencies, it had received intelligence indicating plans for suicide attacks targeting New Year celebrations in several provinces, particularly Aleppo, with a focus on churches and civilian gathering areas.
The ministry added that it took preemptive measures, including reinforcing security around churches, deploying mobile and fixed patrols, and setting up checkpoints across the city.
During operations at a checkpoint in Aleppo’s Bab Al-Faraj district, security forces intercepted a suspected Daesh member who opened fire. One internal security soldier was killed, and the attacker detonated explosives, injuring two others.
Daesh recently increased its attacks in Syria, and was blamed for an attack last month in Palmyra that killed three Americans.
On Dec. 13, two US soldiers and an American civilian were killed in an attack Washington blamed on a lone Daesh gunman in Palmyra.
In retaliation, American forces struck scores of Daesh targets in Syria.
Syrian authorities have also carried out several operations against Daesh since then, saying on Dec. 25 they had killed a senior leader of the group.
