Niger's military junta has refused the latest diplomatic attempt to reinstall the ousted president, rejecting a proposed visit by representatives of the West African regional bloc, the African Union and United Nations on Tuesday, according to a letter seen by The Associated Press.
The letter cited "evident reasons of security in this atmosphere of menace" against Niger, two weeks after mutinous soldiers overthrew the country's democratically elected leader. The regional bloc known as ECOWAS had threatened to use military force if the junta didn't reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday, a deadline that was ignored.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking to Radio France International on Monday, said diplomacy is the preferred way forward, and he couldn't speculate about the future of 1,100 U.S. military personnel in Niger. The U.S. has not yet called the junta's actions a coup, which would mean Niger would stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance and other aid. It also would mean U.S. pulling its support for a major drone base it built in Niger to monitor extremists, which analyst Benedict Manzin of the risk consultancy Sibylline said the U.S. would be loathe to do.
Analysts and diplomats say the window for military intervention is closing and without regional support for the use of force, ECOWAS and others are searching for a way out. The junta, led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, has been exploiting grievances among the population toward Niger's former colonial ruler, France. It also has accused Bazoum's government of failing to do enough to protect the country from Islamic extremists, and has asked the Russian mercenary group Wagner for help. Wagner already operates in a handful of African countries, including Mali, and has been accused of committing human rights abuses.
The ruling military has called on the population to defend the country. It's unclear how much genuine support there is for the junta, but it appears to have rallied some civil society and political groups to its side.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
West African leaders to meet Thursday as Niger’s junta defies key deadline, shuts airspaceRegional bloc ECOWAS has warned of using military force if the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum isn’t returned to power
Read more »
Niger coup: West African nations, UN attempt last minute diplomacy to restore democracy - National | Globalnews.caNearly two weeks since the coup and Niamey's mostly quiet streets are interspersed with pro-junta rallies, anti-foreign rhetoric and residents waving Russian flags.
Read more »
A deadline arrives for Niger's junta to reinstate the president. Citizens cheer and fear what's nextNIAMEY, Niger (AP) — The deadline arrived Sunday for Niger’s military junta to reinstate the country’s ousted president, but the West Africa regional bloc that…
Read more »
Niger's junta shuts airspace and accuses regional countries of planning to invade as deadline passesNIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Leaders of West Africa’s regional bloc said Monday that they would meet later this week to discuss next steps after Niger’s military junta…
Read more »