Beijing will take on this responsibility with the utmost regard for the other nations in the region. Jiang Feng said.
Following a coup in July that resulted in sanctions and threats of armed conflict, the Chinese government has declared its commitment to assist in finding a peaceful solution to the Niger situation.
During a meeting with the military-appointed prime minister Ali Lamine Zeine on Monday, Jiang Feng, Beijing’s ambassador to Niamey, stated: “The Chinese government intends to play the role of good offices, a role of mediator, with full respect for the regional countries.”
China, according to Feng, “stands with Nigeriens” in the current political climate, but it also upholds its ideal of refraining from meddling in the domestic affairs of other nations.
Since the July 26 coup that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum and resulted in his extended arrest, Niger’s military government has been under increasing regional and international pressure.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has stated that it will use all legal methods, with the use of force as a last resort, to restore constitutional order in Niger. The regional bloc declared a backup force was prepared to be sent against the coup leaders last month if continuing diplomatic attempts failed.
Late last month, Algeria unveiled a six-month transitional plan to reinstate constitutional and democratic order in Niger in response to coup leader General Abdourahmane Tchiani’s intention to hand over control of the West African nation to civilians within three years.
A military involvement in Niger has been consistently blocked by Algiers, who are also said to have rejected a request from France to use its airspace for an armed action in Niamey.
Tchiani’s transition proposal has been rejected by ECOWAS, which has imposed financial and economic penalties on Niger, calling the “prolonged” deadline a “provocation.”
Following the coup, several foreign aid initiatives in Niger have been discontinued by the United States, France, the Netherlands, and Germany.
On the other hand, the Chinese representative stated on Monday that Beijing would continue all initiatives that benefited the Nigerien government.
China is still Niamey’s partner in a number of fields, such as energy, oil, and infrastructure. The two countries are currently working together on a sizeable 2,000-kilometer oil export pipeline project to move crude oil from the Agadem fields in southern Niger to the port of Seme in Benin.
