2023-08-08 05:42:00
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) — Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland met with Nigerien coup leaders on Monday to press for a solution to Niger’s current political crisis, but was unable to lead to great results.
The meeting with self-proclaimed defense chief of the July 26 coup Moussa Salaou Barmou and three of the colonels supporting him took place in Niamey, the capital of Niger, Ms Nuland told reporters via teleconference.
Ms Nuland’s visit came as an ultimatum to the junta to release and rehabilitate Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum, now ousted and held by the coup leaders, expired on Sunday.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued the ultimatum and threatened to use force to “restore constitutional order” in Niger if the junta did not comply.
US President Joe Biden called in a statement dated Thursday for the immediate release of Mr. Bazoum and his family, “and the preservation of the hard-won democracy in Niger”.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Friday the suspension of “certain foreign aid programs” to Niger which, according to him, are conditional on “democratic governance and respect for the constitutional order”. END
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