Military chiefs from the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) arrived Wednesday in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, for
two days of meetings to discuss last week’s coup in Niger. Meanwhile, the
United States joined several European nations in evacuating their nationals.
ECOWAS said in a brief statement that the Committee of
Chiefs of Defense Staff would discuss the "political situation in the
Republic of Niger" in their meetings through Friday. ECOWAS has set a
deadline of Sunday for President Mohamed Bazoum’s return to power. Otherwise,
it will consider the use of force.
"The military option is the very last option on
the table, the last resort, but we have to prepare for the eventuality,"
said Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace and
security.
"There is a need to demonstrate that we cannot
only bark but can bite," he told reporters Wednesday in Abuja.
ECOWAS also sent a delegation Wednesday to Niger’s
capital, Niamey, for talks with junta members.
ECOWAS also has imposed sanctions on Niger that
include cutting energy transmissions to impoverished country of 25 million
people, which imports nearly all of its electricity. Neighboring Nigeria has
since stopped sending electricity to Niger, but it is unclear how much of
Niger’s electricity that represents.
General Abdourahamane Tchiani, who declared himself
the new head of state, said in a televised address that the junta "rejects
these sanctions altogether and refuses to give into any threats, wherever they
come from. We refuse any interference in the internal affairs of Niger."
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department said Wednesday it
is ordering the "temporary departure of non-emergency U.S. government
personnel and eligible family members from the U.S. Embassy in Niamey." It
also raised its travel advisory to Level 4 – Do Not Travel – for Niger.
France’s military and foreign ministry continued
Wednesday to evacuate people from Niger. The foreign ministry said about 1,000
people have left Niger on four flights. The evacuees included French nationals
along with people from Niger, Portugal, Belgium, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Germany,
Canada, India, Austria and the United States.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani shared a photo
of an Italian air force plane that he said landed early Wednesday with Italians
who left Niger. Spain also said it planned an evacuation flight for its
nationals.
Military leaders put Bazoum under house arrest on July
26 and named Tchiani, commander of the presidential guard, as their new leader
on Monday. Coup leaders said they were acting in response to what they
described as a worsening security situation and the government's lack of action
against jihadis.
The coup has been condemned by Western countries,
including the U.S., which says it stands with Nigeriens, ECOWAS and the African
Union as it continues to work to roll back the coup, U.S. officials say.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by
telephone Wednesday with Bazoum to discuss the situation in Niger, the State
Department said.
Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement about
the call that the United States "remains committed to the restoration of
the democratically-elected government" in Niger.
"We reiterate that the safety and security of
President Bazoum and his family are paramount," Miller said. "The
United States is dedicated to finding a peaceful resolution that ensures that
Niger remains a strong partner in security and development in the region."
Some information for this report came from The
Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
VOA
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