Niger: A senior United States diplomat has held official talks with Niger’s coup authorities to restore democratic rule after their overthrow of President Mr. Mohamed Bazoum.
Ms. Victoria Nuland, the US’s acting deputy secretary of state, stated that she held “frank and difficult” talks with military leader Mr. Moussa Salaou Barmou and three of his colonels in Niger’s capital, Niamey. It was the first trip by a US official to the country since the July 26 coup.
According to reports, Ms. Nuland’s requests to meet with Mr. Bazoum and Mr. Abdourahmane Tchiani, the self-proclaimed head of the military government, were denied.
“They are quite firm in their view of how they want to proceed, and it does not comport with the Constitution of Niger. It was difficult today, and I will be straight up about that,” the US diplomat added.
Ms. Nuland’s remarks came as the West African bloc, ECOWAS, prepares to meet after the coup leaders ignored a deadline to reinstate Bazoum, a move the bloc had earlier stated could result in the authorization of a military intervention. The US official described the mutinous officers as unreceptive to the US’s urging them to return the country to civilian rule.
“This was the first conversation in which the United States offered its good offices if there was a desire on the part of the people who are responsible for this to return to the constitutional order. I would not say that we were in any way taken up on that offer,” Ms. Nuland added, while warning there would be consequences for Niger’s relations with the US if the junta does not restore Mr. Bazoum.
“I hope they will keep the door open to diplomacy. We made that proposal. We will see,” Ms. Nuland further remarked.
Recently, the US State Department confirmed that it had made direct contact with the coup leaders and stressed the need for Mr. Bazoum to be reinstated.
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