Paris. August 25. INTERFAX - The authorities of Niger have signed a document allowing the troops of Mali and Burkina Faso to enter the country in case of foreign aggression, the France24 TV channel said.
The statement was issued following the visit to Niger of the Foreign Ministers of Burkina Faso, Olivia Ruamba and Mali, Abdoulaye Diop.
Last Friday, a representative of the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) Abdel Fattah Musa said that the military leaders of the member States of the community confirmed their readiness to intervene in the situation in Niger "as soon as the order is given."
The authorities of Burkina Faso and Mali have previously stated that they will consider the invasion of foreign forces in Niger as aggression against their countries.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the intervention of ECOWAS in Niger would be a disastrous scenario for the country and the region, not all members of the organization support it.
"I don't think an invasion would benefit anyone," Lavrov said at a press conference in Johannesburg.
"A force is being created from another part of ECOWAS to counter the invasion, Africans really do not want this kind of scenario, which would be destructive, ruinous for a large number of countries, thousands and thousands of people," the Russian Foreign Minister added.
