As Malian and Burkinabe troops arrive in Niger, Nigeriens applaud them.

Any military action in Niger would be viewed as a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali.

Should the junta fail to restore Mohamed Bazoum, the country’s democratically elected president, ECOWAS had vowed to declare war on the Niger Republic.

Both governments, however, asserted that a military action in Niger would cause regional instability.

“The disastrous consequences of a military intervention in Niger could destabilize the entire region,” states a joint statement from the two governments.