The United States has pledged its unwavering support for ousted Niger leader Mohamed Bazoum and warned those holding him that “hundreds of millions of dollars of assistance” was in jeopardy.
Following a coup earlier this week in which the pro-Western Bazoum was detained, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the head of the Presidential Guard since 2011, has proclaimed himself the new president of Niger.
According to a statement released on Friday, July 28, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was wrapping up a multi-nation Pacific tour, called Bazoum twice in as many days to offer America’s “unflagging support.”
Additionally, the US secretary of state “praised Bazoum’s role in promoting security not only in Niger but the larger West African region,” and he added that Washington would continue to work to “ensure the full restoration of constitutional order and democratic rule in Niger.”
Blinken voiced his concern over Bazoum’s continued detention and noted that “negotiations to ensure constitutional order in Niger were at an impasse” in a call to Mahamadou Issoufou.
He asked Issoufou to continue advocating for Bazoum, saying that he “regretted that those detaining Bazoum were threatening years of successful cooperation and hundreds of millions of dollars of assistance” to Niamey.
Washington issues a warning that it may stop collaborating with Niger on security matters.
