US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on Friday, spoke to former Nigerien president Mahamadou Issoufou and expressed grave concern on the continued detention of the nation’s present president, Mohamed Bazoum, and his household.
“The Secretary assured the previous president of the USA’ continued dedication to discovering a peaceable decision that ensures Niger can stay a powerful companion in safety and growth within the area,” State division spokesperson Matthew Miller mentioned in an announcement.
West African nations put together to ship troops
In the meantime, tensions continued to escalate between Niger’s new army regime and the West African regional bloc that has ordered the deployment of troops to revive Niger’s flailing democracy.
The ECOWAS bloc had directed a standby drive to revive constitutional order in Niger after its Sunday deadline to reinstate Bazoum expired.
Hours earlier, two Western officers advised The Related Press that Niger’s junta had advised a high US diplomat they might kill Bazoum if neighbouring international locations tried any army intervention to revive his rule.
It is unclear when or the place the drive will likely be deployed and which international locations from the 15-member bloc would contribute to it. Battle specialists say it could doubtless comprise some 5,000 troops led by Nigeria and could possibly be prepared inside weeks.
Niger, an impoverished nation of some 25 million folks, was seen as one of many final hopes for Western nations to companion with in beating again a jihadi insurgency linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group that has ravaged the area. France and the USA have greater than 2,500 army personnel in Niger and along with different European companions had poured lots of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} into propping up its army.
The junta answerable for spearheading the coup, led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, has exploited anti-French sentiment among the many inhabitants to shore up its help.
(With PTI inputs)
