To mediate on the political situation in the Niger Republic, which has been ruled by the military since July 26, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee travelled to Nigeria.
A statement posted on the US Secretary of State’s website revealed this.
The US ambassador to Nigeria, according to the statement, arrived on Friday and is scheduled to meet with leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu.
As to the announcement, Monday, December 10 is the scheduled day for the convening of regional leaders for the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit.
“She will confer with West African leaders on how the United States can best support regional efforts to bring Niger back to democracy and to advance security, stability, prosperity, and democracy in the Sahel,” the U.S. Department of State stated in a statement.
Three months have passed since President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by a group of Nigerien military soldiers under the command of Abdourahmane Tchiani. Phee is currently visiting Nigeria.
The African Union and the President Tinubu-led Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc have subsequently denounced the coup on July 26 and Western nations have backed their efforts.
The highest authority of ECOWAS, headed by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, imposed a series of sanctions on Niger in an attempt to thwart the military takeover and desperately try to institute constitutional order once more.
With its two naturally occurring resources, oil and uranium, both of which are highly valued on the global market, Niger has critical economic and geopolitical importance.
The ousting of Bazoum’s democratic government, which was charged with failing to control the ongoing state of instability in certain regions of the nation, was rationalised by junta authorities.
