Category: iNTERNATIONAL

Coup: Defence Chiefs express readiness to attack Niger Republic – ECOWAS

Aminu Imam

The Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), says it has begun the activation of its standby force in Niger Republic to restore constitutional order. ECOWAS Defence Chiefs, who met in Accra, Ghana’s capital, released a statement on Wednesday to say they have commenced the activation of their standby force for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger. “To this end, the ECOWAS committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff will be having an extraordinary meeting in Accra, Ghana from 17th to 18th August 2023 to finalise plans for the deployment…

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Niger: ‘U.S. won’t declare soldiers who removed President Bazoum, coup plotters’ – Official

Aminu Imam

The United States (U.S) government is refraining from labelling the overthrow of Niger’s democratic government a coup and the military junta coup plotters as a precautionary move to preserve America’s interest. The visit of U.S. acting Deputy Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland, to Niger on Monday met a dead-end, as she disclosed that the junta refused to grant her an audience with the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum and junta leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani. She, however, met with the coupists’ chief of defence, Moussa Salaou Barmou, a general trained by the…

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Blinken accuses Wagner Group of taking advantage of Niger crisis

Aminu Imam

United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has said that the Russia’s Wagner mercenary group is “taking advantage” of instability in the Republic of Niger. Recall that Niger experienced a change of government after the military ousted democratically-elected President, Mohamed Bazoum two weeks ago. There have been suggestions the coup leaders have asked for help from Wagner, which is known to be present in neighbouring Mali. Speaking with the British Broadcasting Corporation, (BBC), Blinken said he did not think Russia or Wagner instigated the coup, but said they are trying…

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ECOWAS schedules fresh meeting over Niger coup as deadline elapses

Aminu Imam

The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), will reconvene on Thursday to discuss the crisis in the Republic of Niger. ECOWAS made the announcement on yesterday – a day after its deadline to the military junta in Niger to reinstate the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. In the statement, the organisation said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and chairman of the authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of the ECOWAS leaders will be considering and discussing…

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Niger signs military contract with Russia’s Wagner mercenaries in anticipation of ECOWAS invasion

Aminu Imam

The Nigerien Government has reportedly signed a military contract with Russia’s Wagner mercenaries, according to a news report. American journalist, Jackson Hinkle citing France 24 says Niger, who overthrew the elected president Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, has reached out to Wagner, a well-known mercenary group known for its fighting in Syria, Ukraine, Africa, and most recently the botched Russian coup. He tweeted on Friday afternoon, August 4; “The new government of Niger has reportedly signed a contract with the Wagner Group – France 24”.

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ECOWAS imposes no-flight zone on Niger Republic

Aminu Imam

…Gives junta one week to cede power West African leaders yesterday gave the military junta in Niger Republic one week to cede power, warning they did not rule out the “use of force”, and imposed immediate financial sanctions. The 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) demanded the “immediate release and reinstatement” of Niger’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held by the military since Wednesday. After its emergency summit in Abuja, the bloc said in a joint statement: “In the event the authorities’ demands are not met…

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War Alert: “Don’t send troops to our country”, Niger coup leaders warn ECOWAS

Aminu Imam

Niger’s military leaders have warned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) not to send troops to the Republic of Niger. General Abdourahmane Tchiani, also known as Omar Tchiani, and the chief of Niger’s Presidential Guard, proclaimed himself leader while the country’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, has been held by the military since the coup took place last week. The military leaders in Niger warned against any military intervention in a statement read on Niger national television. During the meeting, the regional body issued a seven-day ultimatum to the…

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AU orders Niger coup leaders back to barracks in 15 days  

Aminu Imam

The African Union (AU) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the junta in Niger to reinstall the country’s democratically elected government. The AU warned of severe consequences if the military chiefs did not heed the call. The African Union threat came after the US and the European Union (EU) issued similar rebuff of the coup leaders who sacked the civilian government of President Mohammed Bazoum, who was elected in 2021 in the first civilian handover of power. The coup leaders met with senior civil servants to discuss how they would…

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Military Coup: “Detained Bazoum still Niger president”, U.S. insists

Aminu Imam

The United States government says Mohamed Bazoum is still the President of the Niger Republic, and that it is in touch with the West African country’s former President Mahamadou Issoufou, amidst a military take-over. The Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, Vedant Patel, during a press briefing on Thursday, said, There are some important pieces in here. First, President Bazoum is still president. He has not resigned”.  Patel noted that the situation in Niger was “fluid. We, of course, will continue to pay close attention and remain…

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Russia writes-off $23bn debt for Africa – Putin

Aminu Imam

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, says the Russian Government has written off the $23 billion debt burden of African countries. Putin disclosed this at the plenary session of the ongoing second Russia–Africa Summit 2023 holding from July 27 to July 28. He said Moscow would allocate an additional $90 million for these purposes. The Russian President said Russia was advocating expansion of representation of African countries in the UN Security Council and other UN structures. According to him, the reopening of embassies in Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea is going as…

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