At stake is hundreds of millions of dollars in financial support from the United States over whether the legal system can be restored in Niger, a US State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Matthew Miller stated in his daily press conference that there is a way back, and that the possibility of negotiating with the participants in the military coup is open. He added that this was also discussed during talks held by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Victoria Nuland in Niamey on Monday.
The senior US diplomat told reporters on the phone Monday that he had a personal discussion for several hours with Chief of Staff Musa Salo Parmo, who made it clear to him that relations with the United States would become difficult if he followed the path. Unlocked by grabbing power.
The foreign minister expressed his hope that the door to the proposed diplomatic settlement would remain open. He also reported that during his meeting in Niger, the emergence of Wagner’s Russian private army was discussed, which he had warned his negotiators about. He noted that there was not much reaction to the call for attention.
In a statement issued Monday after the trial, the US State Department once again called on the leaders of the takeover to release unconstitutionally detained President Mohamed Bazoum and his family, as well as the other detainees. The statement said the United States would suspend certain assistance to the government of Niger and would reassess and review further assistance.
According to Miller, among other things, funding for international military training and education, peacekeeping operations and a financial support program for the military aimed at strengthening Niger’s counterterrorism capabilities will be suspended.
Nigeria believes in diplomacy
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said on Tuesday ahead of the extraordinary summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) scheduled for August 10 that diplomacy is the best way out of the crisis stemming from the military coup in Niger.
According to Tinubu’s spokesperson, Aguri Ngilal, who is currently chair of the Economic Community of West African States, he said diplomacy “provides the best way forward” to resolve the crisis. He added that this is the unanimous position of the Heads of State of the ECOWAS Member States.
Ngilal said the summit would take “far-reaching decisions” on the group’s next steps. In addition, he stressed that “not a single option has been excluded from the negotiating table.”
Ngilali also announced that Tinubu had imposed new financial sanctions through the Central Bank of Nigeria on individuals and companies involved in the power grab in Niger.
On Sunday, the Economic Community of West African States set a deadline for the release and reinstatement of Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum, who is under house arrest. Otherwise, he warned, the military council could face military intervention.
The group of countries plans to hold an emergency summit in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Thursday to decide on next steps. Its member states submitted plans for possible military intervention over the weekend. French radio RFI reported on Tuesday that the ideas include a 25,000-strong military force. In addition to Nigeria, Benin, Senegal and Ivory Coast have also expressed their willingness to participate in the event.
At the same time, the putschists were assured of their support by Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, which were suspended from the Economic Community of West African States.
(MTI)
