The United States of America has issued a stern warning to the coup leaders in Niger, who overthrew President Mohamed Bozoum on July 26. The US said that it may be forced to intervene militarily if the junta does not return power to the democratically elected president.
The US acting Deputy Secretary, Victoria Nuland, made this statement in a special briefing on Niger via a teleconference on Tuesday.
She said that she had explained the legal implications of the coup to the junta members and urged them to be prudent and accept the US offer to work with them diplomatically to restore constitutional order.
Nuland said that the US was deeply concerned about the current challenge to the democratic order in Niger, which had begun with a violent attack on the presidential palace by a group of soldiers loyal to former president Mahamadou Issoufou. She said that the coup had disrupted the peaceful transition of power that had taken place after Bozoum’s victory in the February elections.
She said that President Joe Biden had been in constant touch with regional and international partners to coordinate a response to the crisis. She said that Biden had spoken with President Tinubu of Nigeria, who is also the current head of ECOWAS, with AU Chairperson Faki, and with several European allies who have a stake in Niger’s stability and security.
“We have been in very close touch with President Tinubu and with other regional leaders,” Nuland said. “We have also been in regular touch with the African Union and with European allies.”
Nuland said that all these partners shared the same values of democracy and human rights, and that they were working together to pressure the junta to release Bozoum and his government officials, who are currently under house arrest. She also said that they were calling for an immediate return to civilian rule and respect for the will of the Nigerien people.
“We are committed to helping Niger return to constitutional order,” Nuland said. “We are working with regional partners to find a diplomatic solution to this crisis.”
The US warning to the Niger coup leaders is a significant development, and it could have a major impact on the outcome of the crisis. The US is one of Niger’s most important allies, and its threat of military intervention could be a major deterrent to the coup leaders.
The US warning is also a sign of the Biden administration’s commitment to democracy and human rights. The administration has made it clear that it will not tolerate coups or other undemocratic actions in the region.
The next few days and weeks will be critical in determining the fate of Niger. The coup leaders will need to decide whether to comply with the US warning and return power to Bazoum, or whether to risk a military intervention.
The outcome of the crisis will have a major impact on the stability of the region and on the US’s interests in Africa.
