ALGIERS: Algeria announced on Thursday that it sent a high-level official to Niger as part of its diplomatic efforts in the aftermath of a coup in the African country.
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary-general, Lounes Magramane is going to visit Niger, the ministry said on its social media account. The development comes a day following Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf started a trip to West African nations in a bid to find a settlement in Niger, where Algiers also opposes any military interference after the military coup.
Algeria High-Level Official Visits Niger for Dialogue After Military Coup
The West African alliance ECOWAS had threatened to use military force to restore Niger’s elected president, M Bazoum, who was arrested by the country’s army on July 26. Magramane’s trip was another attempt in Algiers’ “constant efforts … to contribute to a peaceful settlement to the political crisis in Niger, avoiding increased dangers for the brotherly nation and for the region,” the Algerian Ministry for Foreign Affairs said. It said that the official was due to hold “meetings with high officials” in Niger.
Earlier, new US envoy to Niger Kathleen Fitzgibbon also arrived in Niamey, but will not officially present her credentials to the new military rulers due to the “current political crisis,” US officials said.
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In a statement, the US State Department said Kathleen Fitzgibbon has travelled to Niger to lead their diplomatic mission in the county. It added that the new envoy will help to solve the current political crisis in Niger. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that Fitzgibbon’s arrival in Niamey “does not reflect a change” in Washington’s policy stance but responds to the need for senior leadership of their mission at a critical time.
Similarly, Niger’s Junta said that a transition of authority would not go beyond 3-year and also warned that any assault on the African nation would not be easy for those involved.
