The United States, on Wednesday, declared its conditional readiness to resume cooperation with Niger, predicated on the military regime, which seized power at the end of July following a coup, committing to a brief transitional period. Washington suspended its cooperation with Niamey after the July 26 coup that ousted elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
During a visit to Niamey on Tuesday, Molly Phee, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, met with various Nigerien officials, including Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Al-Amin Zein, appointed by the military. She informed reporters on Wednesday that the ruling “National Council for the Protection of the Country” must set a definitive deadline for a swift and credible transition resulting in a democratically elected government.
Phee added, “We have underscored that we are prepared to resume our cooperation provided the National Council takes the steps I have mentioned.” The military is proposing a transitional period of up to three years before returning power to civilians, with the length of this period to be determined through an impending national dialogue.
As for the fate of the former president, US diplomacy noted that the military has agreed to find a satisfactory resolution for him and his family, as well as members of his government. Since the coup, Bazoum has been under house arrest with his wife and son. Leaders of the coup apprehended several prominent figures of the previous regime, while others have fled the country.
On Sunday, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs participated in a summit in Abuja with leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). At their summit, ECOWAS decided to maintain the sanctions imposed on Niger following the military coup, conditioning the easing of these measures on a shortened rule by those described as coup plotters.
Phee, on Wednesday, urged the National Council for the Protection of the Country to positively respond to ECOWAS’s offer to negotiate and affirmed that the United States supports the decisions of this regional organization.
Nigerien Foreign Minister Bakari Wau Sangare stated at the beginning of December that the new US Ambassador to Niger, Kathleen FitzGibbon, who arrived in Niamey in mid-August, will soon present her credentials to the authorities.
On July 26, Niger experienced a military coup led by General Omar Abd al-Rahman Tiyanni, the former commander of the presidential guard, which resulted in the removal of President Mohammad Bazoum. Following this, ECOWAS imposed strict sanctions on Niger and issued a warning that it might intervene militarily if diplomatic efforts to restore Bazoum to power failed.
