U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a phone name Friday with former Nigerien President Mohamed Issoufou.
Blinken expressed “grave concern” for the continued detention below “deteriorating conditions” of present President Mohamed Bazoum and his household.
“The Secretary shared that he is particularly dismayed by the refusal of those who seized power in Niger to release Bazoum’s family members as a demonstration of goodwill,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller wrote in a press release.
“The Secretary assured the former president of the United States’ continued dedication to finding a peaceful resolution that ensures Niger can remain a strong partner in security and development in the region,” Miller added.
The name got here sooner or later after Blinken voiced help for the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc following the coup.
“ECOWAS, an organization that brings together West African countries, is playing a lead role in making clear the imperative of the return to constitutional order, and we very much support ECOWAS’s leadership and work on this,” Blinken instructed reporters throughout a news convention along with his Mexican counterpart, Alicia Barcena Ibarra.
ECOWAS ordered the activation Thursday of its standby pressure to “restore constitutional order” in Niger.
Bazoum was ousted July 26 in a navy coup led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, the previous commander of Niger’s presidential guard, who has declared himself the pinnacle of a transitional authorities.
Bazoum has since reportedly been held hostage on the presidential palace within the nationwide capital, Niamey.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
