According to Vanguard, Niger’s military junta has decided to sever all connections, including military agreements, with France, the United States, and Nigeria amid growing international pressure for the restoration of democracy in the country. The junta also recalled its ambassadors and cautioned its citizens to be cautious of foreign armies and spies.
The announcement was made on Niger’s television after a delegation led by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu met with coup leader Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani. President Tinubu, as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, had dispatched the delegation, led by former military Head of State Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar, to Niger.
As the deadline set by the West African regional bloc approaches, the international community is urging the Tchiani-led military to release and reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, who made a plea for help in a Washington Post opinion piece.
Niger’s mutinous soldiers also announced the termination of military agreements and protocols signed with France and the end of functions for Niger’s ambassadors to France, the United States, Togo, and neighboring Nigeria, which is leading ECOWAS efforts on dialogue. The coup leaders warned that any aggression against Niger would be met with an immediate response.
In response to the situation, European countries have begun evacuating their nationals from Niger, while Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea have expressed support for the coup. The developments are adding to the regional tensions and concerns over the stability of the region.
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