The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has offered Niger’s overthrown leader, Mohamed Bazoum, Washington’s steadfast support, and had promptly warned those detaining him, that several millions of dollars of aid were at stake.
Yesterday, Friday, July 28, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the head of the Presidential Guard since 2011, declared himself the new leader of Niger after the coup that overthrew Bazoum had taken place.
According to Mark Miller, the US department spokesperson, Blinken had called Bazoum for the second time in under a week, to offer Bazoum, America’s “tireless and unwavering support”.
The US secretary of state had also acknowledged Bazoum’s role in promoting security both in Niger Republic and the wider West African region, adding that Washington would keep working to ensure the complete restoration of constitutional and democratic order in Niger.
Recall that Washington had already warned that it may suspend security and other cooperation with Niger.
Blinken had also discussed with Catherine Colonna, the French Foreign Minister, about the situation in Niger, highlighting the need to restore constitutional order in the West African nation.
