NIAMEY: Niger’s military regime on Tuesday said that it was open to dialogue to solve a regional problem caused by last month’s military coup, while Moscow and Washington called for a peaceful solution of the crisis.
Democratic African governments and Western powers have called for the army rulers to reinstate deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, but the military regime has declined attempts at talks.
Niger Army Rulers Say Open to Dialogue as US, Russia Stress Peace
Army Chiefs of West African countries will hold meeting on Thursday and Friday in Ghana to formulate for a probable military interference, which the Economic Community of West African States, has threatened to initiate if diplomacy does not work.
AP reported that any military interference could further destabilize the region, where an insurgency by militant groups linked to Islamic State and Al-Qaeda has displaced millions of people over the past decade and also fueled a hunger crisis.
“We reiterated our willingness to remain open to dialogue to all stakeholders, but we have also insisted on the need for the nations to be independent,” in a statement Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine said. He expressed these remarks after a visit to meet Chad’s President Mahamat Deby.
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Russian President Putin also spoke to Mali’s military ruler regarding the recent military coup in Niger on Tuesday. The Russian President stressed the significance of a peaceful solution to the situation for a more stable region,” Mali’s interim President said vis on his social media account.
US Defense Department spokesperson Sabrina Singh said Washington was committed to a diplomatic resolution and said Niger was a partner the US did not want to lose.
According to AP, Niger’s military coup leaders have canceled a raft of military deals with Paris, although France shrugged this off by adding that it did not recognize them as legitimate government.
