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Live Updates: ECOWAS Сondemns Niger's Armed Groups' Attacks Against the Country’s Soldiers

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At the end of July, Niger's military representatives announced that President Mohamed Bazoum had been removed from power. The Economic Community of West... 16.08.2023, Sputnik Africa

2023-08-16T09:35+0200

2023-08-16T19:25+0200

situation in niger after military coup

united nations (un)

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west africa

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mohamed bazoum

economic community of west african states (ecowas)

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Protesters hold a Niger flag during a demonstration on independence day in Niamey on August 3, 2023. Hundreds of people backing the coup in Niger gathered on August 3, 2023 for a mass rally in the capital Niamey with some brandishing giant Russian flags. - Sputnik Africa

Live Updates: ECOWAS Сondemns Niger's Armed Groups' Attacks Against the Country’s Soldiers

09:35 16.08.2023 (Updated: 19:25 16.08.2023)

Gleb Chugunov

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At the end of July, Niger's military representatives announced that President Mohamed Bazoum had been removed from power. The Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) condemned the coup. In early August, the Community adopted a plan in case of military intervention in Niger.

The United Nations continues its support for the mediation efforts in Niger to free the country’s ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.

"We are continuing our efforts supporting the ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States], the African Union mediation. Our special representative is in contact with all relevant parties, but nothing to share with you at this point," Dujarric said during a press briefing.

Dujarric added that in this context, the newly appointed UN Special Representative Leonardo Santos Simao visited Liberia on Monday to establish effective channels of communication with the country’s authorities as well as the diplomatic corps’ representatives.

Last week, the ECOWAS leaders agreed during the summit in Abuja to activate a standby force to potentially force the Nigerien military to reinstate Bazoum.

The move came after ECOWAS’ ultimatum to the Nigerien military to restore the constitutional order in the country expired.

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18:52 16.08.2023

War in Niger Would Help NATO 'to Plunder Our Resources', Says Senior Malian Official

Protesters hold an anti-France placard during a demonstration on independence day in Niamey on August 3, 2023. Security concerns built on August 3, 2023 ahead of planned protests in coup-hit Niger, with France demanding safety guarantees for foreign embassies as some Western nations reduced their diplomatic presence. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 16.08.2023

Sub-Saharan Africa

War in Niger Would Help NATO 'to Plunder Our Resources', Says Senior Malian Official

16 August 2023, 18:42

18:22 16.08.2023

ECOWAS Сondemns Niger's Armed Groups' Attacks Against the Country’s Soldiers

The Economic Community of West African Countries condemns the attacks of armed groups in Niger, the victims of which were soldiers.

Earlier, French media reported that at least 17 Niger soldiers were killed and another 20 wounded in an attack allegedly by jihadists near the borders of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

The Community also expressed condolences to the people of Niger and the relatives of the fallen soldiers.

"ECOWAS condemns these attacks and conveys its deepest condolences to the people of Niger and the families of the soldiers who have lost their lives," reads a statement posted in social media. According to the organization, the situation in the country worsened with the coming to power of the rebels.

According to the organization, the situation in the country worsened with the coming to power of the rebels.

"ECOWAS calls on the CNSP-military leadership in Niger to restore constitutional order in order to focus on the security of the country that has become increasingly fragile since the attempted coup d'etat against the democratically elected President, H. E. Mohamed Bazoum," the statement said.

14:57 16.08.2023

African Union Security Council Decides Not to Use Force Against Rebels in Niger, Reports Say

Situation in Niger After Military Coup

African Union Security Council Decides Not to Use Force Against Rebels in Niger, Reports Say

16 August 2023, 14:55

12:37 16.08.2023

New US Ambassador to Niger is Expected to Arrive in Niamey at the end of the Week: Media

The new US ambassador to Niger, Kathleen FitzGibbon, will arrive in Niger’s capital Niamey at the end of the week, an unnamed American official stated as cited by western media.

The post of US ambassador to Niger remained vacant for almost two years. Some experts, whose opinion is cited by media, believe that because of this, Washington had less information about the situation in the country.

In early August, the US State Department reported that the nation maintains an embassy in Niger, despite the evacuation of some employees, continues diplomatic contacts with the African nation.

11:41 16.08.2023

ECOWAS' Sanctions Against Niger Should Remain in Effect, Nigerian President Says

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who also chairs the ECOWAS, has met with Gabonese Foreign Minister Hermann Immongault and stressed the importance of maintaining ECOWAS sanctions in the wake of the coup in Niger.

"I appreciate the solidarity and support of [Gabonese] President [Ali] Bongo on the situation in Niger. We are working not to compound the problem. We have well-meaning people who have intervened. I understand the fear of our people on any form of military action. We are working to keep the sanctions in place and we are following them to the letter," Tinubu was quoted as saying by a local newspaper during the meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

The president praised the support of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), adding that interference in democratic governance "is not acceptable to ECOWAS," the newspaper said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PDSN-Tarraya), led by ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, has called on pro-democracy supporters to rally against the coup leaders' plans to put the country's democratically elected leader on trial.

Earlier, Eswatini's acting defense minister, Prince Sicalo Dlamini, told Sputnik that the most appropriate way to resolve the conflict is through negotiations, and that military intervention is not the only option.

10:25 16.08.2023

Niger’s Case Indicates Washington's World Influence Decrease, Ex-US Diplomat Says

The unwillingness of the military to retreat in the face of persuasions and warnings from the United States indicates the weakening of America's influence on a global scale and the strengthening of the influence of other powers, former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Tibor Peter Nagy told media.

"It’s not a unipolar world anymore," Nagy stated. "It’s duo-polar, if anything, and there are a whole lot of middle powers who have quite a bit of leverage."

According to a media outlet, Niger has repeated the fate of a number of West African states – Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali – in which American-trained military officers have come to power since 2021.

The outlet further stated that since 2012, the US government has spent $ 500 Mln on the creation and training of the armed forces of Niger, of which $ 100 Mln – on the construction of a base in Agadez, where American drones are deployed to conduct anti-terrorist operations.

09:46 16.08.2023

Niger Ready to Cooperate With all Parties, Prime Minister Says

The rebel-appointed Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, stated that during recent visit to Chad, Niger’s delegation conveyed a message from the new head of the country that the nation is ready to cooperate with all parties, while maintaining independence.

According to him, during the visit he met with the head of Chad Mahamat Idriss Deby.

"We came with a message from the head of State of Niger, General [Abdourahamane] Tchiani, who expressed solidarity and fraternal spirit and who asked us to reiterate these relations between Chad and Niger. We are living through a transitional period, we explained this, [...] stressed our readiness to remain open, to interact with all parties, but stated the need for the independence of our country. It needs to be said that this is a sovereign country. We need to talk to all partners so that they understand this," Zeine said.

The video is published by local media.

He noted that Niger is not closed and is determined to move forward.

According to reports, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine arrived in the capital of Chad, N'Djamena, on August 15 to discuss the initiatives of the Chadian leadership to resolve the situation in his country.