As international pressure grows on it to reestablish democratic order in the nation, Niger’s junta has severed all ties with France, its former colonial power, including military accords.
The military leaders also summoned their ambassadors back home and issued a warning to the populace to be careful of spies and foreign forces.
This was revealed on the national television of the West African nation as the delegation sent by President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria met with Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, the coup leader, on Thursday.
Remember that yesterday, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, a former military head of state, headed a mission that Tinubu, the chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, had despatched to Niger.
The West African regional bloc’s deadline is about to expire in two days; therefore, the Niger junta also announced that it was severing ties with the US and Nigeria.
The exiled President Mohamed Bazoum is being requested to be released and reinstated by the Tchiani-led military.
Bazoum pleaded for assistance in an opinion article that appeared in the Washington Post, writing, “I write this as a hostage and urge the U.S. and partners to help.”
However, Niger’s mutinous soldiers announced the termination of the military agreements and protocols signed with France as well as the termination of the duties of the country’s ambassadors to France, the United States, Togo, and neighbouring Nigeria, which is in charge of ECOWAS dialogue efforts.
The coup leaders’ spokesman, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, said that “all aggression or attempt at aggression against the state of Niger will see an immediate response and without warning.”
As Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea indicated support for the coup, European nations began to evacuate their citizens who were in Niger.
Vanguard
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