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Niger
Jul 30, 2023 2:58:13 GMT
Post by Admin on Jul 30, 2023 2:58:13 GMT
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent a warning to the Nigerian military leaders behind a coup to oust the country’s democratically elected president, saying assistance and support from the U.S. is in jeopardy. NBC News’ Courtney Kube has the latest.
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Niger
Jul 31, 2023 13:58:13 GMT
Post by Admin on Jul 31, 2023 13:58:13 GMT
Chad's military leader and transitional president arrived in Niger for mediation talks with the leaders of a coup who have declared their leader the new head of state and detained the country's elected president.
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Niger
Aug 1, 2023 3:22:31 GMT
Post by Admin on Aug 1, 2023 3:22:31 GMT
In a sign of growing hostility towards the West since the coup in Niger, a businessman proudly shows off his outfit in the colours of the Russian flag in the traditional heartland of deposed President Mohamed Bazoum. Since the coup, there has been a war of words between the military and the West. Mr Bazoum was a staunch ally of the West in the fight against militant Islamists, and was a strong economic partner as well. Niger hosts a French military base and is the world's seventh biggest producer of uranium. The fuel is vital for nuclear power with a quarter of it going to Europe, especially former colonial power France. Since General Abdourahamane Tchiani overthrew the president in a coup on 26 July, Russian colours have suddenly appeared on the streets. Thousands took part in a protest in the capital Niamey on Sunday, with some waving Russian flags and even attacking the French embassy. It now seems this "movement" is spreading across the country. The businessman, based 800km (500 miles) away in the central city of Zinder, didn't want to give his name for safety reasons and asked that we blur his face. "I'm pro-Russian and I don't like France," he said. "Since childhood, I've been opposed to France. "They've exploited all the riches of my country such as uranium, petrol and gold. The poorest Nigeriens are unable to eat three times a day because of France." The businessman said thousands had taken part in Monday's protest in Zinder in support of the military takeover. He said he had asked a local tailor to take material in the Russian colours of white, blue and red and make an outfit for him, denying that it had been paid for by pro-Russian groups. Niger is home to 24.4 million people where two in every five live in extreme poverty, on less than $2.15 a day.
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Niger
Aug 1, 2023 19:12:17 GMT
Post by Admin on Aug 1, 2023 19:12:17 GMT
A Ukrainian official has accused Moscow of orchestrating the coup in Niger, referring to alleged involvement as a “standard Russian tactic”.
Last Wednesday, President Mohamed Bazoum and his democratically elected government were removed by military leaders in the seventh military coup the country has seen in less than three years.
On Tuesday, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, said Russia was behind the shocking takeover.
On the social media outlet X (formally known as Twitter), Podolyak wrote, “It is now absolutely clear that Russia is behind the so-called ‘military coup’ in Niger. It is a standard Russian tactic: to divert attention, seize the moment and expand the conflict.”
“Russia has a global scenario for provoking instability to undermine the global security order,” he said.
“Its time to draw the right conclusion: only the removal of [Russian President] Putin’s clan and sending Russia to the political rebirth can guarantee the inviolability of rules and stability to the world.”
The Kremlin said on Monday that the situation in Niger was “cause for serious concern” after the coup that was condemned by much of the world but welcomed by Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has extensive interests in Africa.
In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia called for all sides in Niger to show restraint, and for the fastest possible return to legal order.
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Niger
Aug 7, 2023 7:37:58 GMT
Post by Admin on Aug 7, 2023 7:37:58 GMT
Niger's coup leaders have closed the country's airspace until further notice, citing the threat of military intervention from their neighbours.
Flight tracking website Flightradar24 is showing that there are currently no aircraft in Niger's skies.
The West African group of countries, Ecowas, had earlier warned it could use force if President Mohamed Bazoum was not reinstated by 23:00 GMT on Sunday.
A junta spokesman says Niger's armed forces are ready to defend the country.
Mr Bazoum was detained on 26 July, and Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, commander of the presidential guard, later proclaimed himself the new leader.
The military takeover has been internationally condemned, including by former colonial power France and the rest of the European Union, as well as the United Nations and the United States.
Reading a statement on national television on Sunday, the representative from Niger's junta said they had information that "a foreign power" was preparing to attack Niger.
After a crisis meeting in Nigeria, Ecowas military chiefs said on Friday they had drawn up a detailed plan for the possible use of force.
"All the elements that will go into any eventual intervention have been worked out here, including the resources needed, the how and when we are going deploy the force," said Abdel-Fatau Musah, Ecowas commissioner for political affairs, peace and security.
And he added: "We want diplomacy to work, and we want this message clearly transmitted to them [Niger's junta] that we are giving them every opportunity to reverse what they have done".
They issued their ultimatum a week ago, demanding the generals relinquish power by midnight local time, which has now passed.
Ecowas is a regional trading bloc of 15 West African countries, including Nigeria, Senegal, Togo and Ghana.
The coup leaders seem to be showing no sign of willingness to cede power, and on Sunday thousands of their supporters rallied defiantly at a stadium in Niger's capital Niamey.
Two of Niger's neighbours - Burkina Faso and Mali - earlier warned they would treat any outside military intervention in Niger as "a declaration of war" against them. Burkina Faso and Mali are both Ecowas members but have been suspended from the bloc since being ruled by military juntas.
Niger is a significant uranium producer - a fuel that is vital for nuclear power - and under Mr Bazoum was a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militants in West Africa's Sahel region.
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