WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has offered Niger’s deposed President Mohamed Bazoum US’s unwavering support, and also warned those detaining the President that “hundreds of millions of dollars of assistance” was at risk, US media reported on Saturday.
Washington Offers “Unflagging” Support to Deposed Niger President
General Abdourahamane Tchiani, chief of the Presidential Guard has declared himself as the new leader of the African country after a coup earlier this week in which Bazoum was detained and ousted.
Blinken also ” lauded Bazoum’s role in promoting security in Niger and in the region” and said the US would keep working to “ensure the complete restoration of constitutional order and democracy in Niger.”
The US had earlier warned it could stop security and other cooperation with the African country, where around 1,000 US army personnel are stationed– for now.
The US top diplomat also spoke with his French counterpart Catherine Colonna regarding the current situation in Niger, highlighting the “urgency of efforts to restore constitutional order” in the West African country.
