Africa

Niger’s new govt. snubs talks offer by African blocs after military threat as US keeps troops there

Niger’s new military government has rebuffed latest talks offer by Western-backed African Union (AU) and ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) following the expiration of their initial military action threat against the nation as the US military insists on keeping its forces in Niger amid fear of a potential intervention.

The AU on Tuesday planned to dispatch a joint mission to Niger, along with representatives of the United Nations and ECOWAS aimed at restoring the country’s ousted West-sponsored President Mohamed Bazoum, but the nation’s new leader denied permission for the visit and closed Niger’s airspace resisting US-led pressure to negotiate “reversing” the coup.

Leaders of ECOWAS and AU, meanwhile, are reportedly preparing for a summit on Thursday to discuss the “possibility of military intervention” with Niger’s coup leaders, who defied a Sunday deadline to reinstate overthrown Bazoum – a staunch Western ally – or face military action, AFP and other major Western news agencies reported Tuesday.

However, the bloc – led by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu – has been cited as emphasizing that diplomacy remains the “best way forward” to resolve the Niger crisis despite its earlier threat of military action against Niamey.

ECOWAS had given officers who seized power in Niamey on July 26 a seven-day ultimatum to reinstate Bazoum or face the potential use of force, but the coup leaders defied the warning.

Tinubu and other West African leaders “would prefer a resolution that was obtained through diplomatic means, through peaceful means, rather than any other,” his spokesman Chief Ajuri Ngelale declared as quoted in an Al Jazeera report.

“That will be a position that is maintained going forward, pending any other resolution that may or may not result from the ECOWAS extraordinary summit holding on Thursday,” Ngelale further noted.

The Nigerian president “has been unequivocal in his position that diplomacy is the best way forward,” he added, and “is representing the consensus position of the ECOWAS heads of state.”

The Nigerian presidential spokesman, however, underlined that “military intervention has not, and will not be taken off of the table.”

This is while Niger’s new military leaders have already snubbed meetings with a top US diplomat that secretly visited the nation this week as well as another ECOWAS delegation that also attempted to negotiate with them.

US Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland flew to Niamey on Monday but was denied permission to meet with coup leader Abdourahamane Tchiani or with Bazoum, who remains in custody. She reportedly warned Niger’s new leaders against seeking Russian military help and also hinted US military action if Bazoum is not restored to power.

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