US says no indication Russia behind, or involved in Niger coup

US says no indication Russia behind, or involved in Niger coup

There is “no indication” Russia was concerned within the navy overthrow of Niger’s democratically-elected president, the White House stated Tuesday.

Asked about Moscow’s potential involvement within the ongoing tumult within the West African nation, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby advised reporters the Biden administration has “no indication that Russia was behind this, Russia’s militarily supporting it in any way, or in any way effectively supporting it.”

Just hours earlier, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak accused Russia of being behind the coup.

“It is now absolutely clear that Russia is behind the so-called ‘military coup’ in Niger. It is a standard Russian tactic: to divert attention, seize the moment and expand the conflict,” Mykhailo Podolyak stated in an announcement on X, the social media platform previously often known as Twitter.

Podolyak claimed that navy juntas in neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, the place the Russian paramilitary Wagner Group is taking part in “an active role,” contribute to the assumption that Russia has “a global scenario for provoking instability to undermine the global security order.”

The feedback come as tensions proceed to flare in West Africa with fellow navy juntas vowing to assist Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, the commander of Niger’s presidential guard who declared himself the top of a transitional authorities on Friday following the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum.

The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc gave Tchiani a one-week deadline on Sunday to revive constitutional order within the nation or danger navy intervention from regional nations.

The African Union additionally advised navy leaders on Saturday that they’d 15 days to return to their barracks and restore constitutional authority.

Source: www.anews.com.tr