- By Kathryn Armstrong in London & Nduka Orjinmo in Abuja
- BBC News
There is a “window of opportunity” to end Niger’s army coup diplomatically, the US has mentioned.
While Washington believes the crisis may be resolved, it has suspended hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in help till President Mohamed Bazoum is reinstated.
West African international locations will meet on Thursday to focus on the coup having warned the junta of army motion.
The coup leaders responded to the risk from the Ecowas bloc of African states by closing Niger’s airspace.
Ecowas had issued a 23:00 GMT Sunday deadline to Niger’s junta leaders to stand down and restore the elected president.
Speaking at a US State Department information convention on Monday, spokesman Matthew Miller mentioned “the window of opportunity is definitely still open”.
He added that the US believes “the junta should step aside and let President Mohamed Bazoum resume his duties” and the US remained in touch with the deposed chief.
America’s prime diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, instructed BBC News Ecowas had Washington’s full backing for its strategy to the crisis in Niger.
“It’s very important that that constitutional order be restored and right now I think Ecowas is playing a very important role in moving the country back in that direction,” Mr Blinken mentioned.
The European Union additionally mentioned there remained an opportunity to restore Niger’s democratically elected authorities.
“The EU still thinks there is some room for mediation until Thursday 10 August,” a EU spokesperson mentioned, referring to Thursday’s Ecowas summit.
The rising instability within the area compelled former colonial energy France on Monday to warn its residents in opposition to travelling to the Sahel area, and for these nonetheless there to be cautious due to anti-France sentiment.
“It is essential to limit travel, to stay away from any gatherings and to keep themselves regularly informed of the situation,” learn a press release from the international ministry.
The junta in Niger on Sunday mentioned it had data that “a foreign power” was getting ready to assault the nation, following stories that army chiefs from Ecowas, a bloc of 15 international locations together with Nigeria, Senegal, Togo and Ghana, had drawn up an in depth plan to be used of power.
Earlier, Abdel-Fatau Musah, Ecowas’ commissioner for political affairs, peace and safety, mentioned that whereas “all the elements” had been labored out about an “eventual intervention”, the physique wished “diplomacy to work”.
Over the weekend Nigeria’s Senate mentioned the state of affairs in Niger after President Bola Tinubu wrote to it concerning the Ecowas resolutions imposing sanctions and the doable use of army power.
Local media report there was sturdy opposition to army intervention, particularly from senators representing states close to the lengthy border the 2 international locations share.
President Tinubu has been particularly vocal in demanding that the Niger army depart energy and has threatened to use power if they don’t – however he wants approval from the National Assembly for any international army intervention.
Mr Bazoum was deposed on 26 July, and Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, commander of the presidential guard, later proclaimed himself the brand new chief.
The coup leaders appear to be displaying no signal of willingness to cede energy, and on Sunday hundreds of their supporters rallied defiantly at a stadium within the capital Niamey.
Niger is a big uranium producer – a gas that’s very important for nuclear energy – and beneath Mr Bazoum was a key Western ally within the battle in opposition to Islamist militants in West Africa’s Sahel area.
Niger coup: More bother for the Sahel area?
Niger coup: The fundamentals:
Where is Niger? It’s an unlimited nation in West Africa, and one of the poorest international locations on the planet.
Why was there a coup? The army mentioned it seized energy as a result of of insecurity and the financial state of affairs, however there have been solutions it got here after stories the coup chief was about to be sacked.
What subsequent? It’s feared the army could search to change allegiance to Russia and shut French and US bases there; for his or her half, Niger’s neighbours have threatened to use power to end the coup.
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