Status quo in Niger. The military regime resulting from a coup d’etat is sticking to its positions on the eve of the summit of West African countries which is to be held this Thursday, August 10 in Abuja, capital of Nigeria led by Bola Tinubu, President in ECOWAS exercise. Niamey seems insensitive to offers of negotiations from West Africa and the United States to avoid military intervention to restore constitutional order, which remains an option. L’Express summarizes the latest information on the crisis in Niger.
The ECOWAS delegation could not come for security reasons
Nigeria’s president believes diplomacy is the “best way” to resolve the crisis, although he has not ruled out military intervention, his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said on Tuesday. A joint delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and the United Nations was unable to go there on Tuesday, the regional organization confirmed in the evening. This mission was canceled following a communication from the military authorities indicating that they were unable to receive this tripartite delegation, ECOWAS added.
The military in power in Niamey had invoked reasons of “security, in this atmosphere of threat of aggression against Niger”. “The current context of anger and revolt of the populations following the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS does not allow to welcome the said delegation in the serenity and security required”, indicates a letter from the Nigerien Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent Monday to ECOWAS .
Paris stands behind ECOWAS
France had been “intransigent” in the face of the soldiers who took power in Niger, it now appears more “withdrawn”. “We fully support […] the efforts of the countries of the region to restore democracy in Niger,” a French diplomatic source told AFP on Tuesday, almost two days after the expiration of the ultimatum issued by the Economic Community of African States of the West.
Washington still has “hope” but remains “realistic”
American diplomacy said on Tuesday that it still hoped that the coup would end, remaining nevertheless “realistic” about the situation. “We’re still hopeful, but we’re also very realistic,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. “We still hope for an end to this situation, but at the same time we are making it clear, including directly to the junta leaders themselves, what the consequences are of the absence of a return to constitutional order,” the spokesperson added.
The number two of the acting American diplomacy, Victoria Nuland, said Monday that she had met in Niamey with the authors of the coup, stressing that the discussions with them had been “difficult” and did not make it possible to find a negotiated solution. .
Wagner benefits, according to Washington
US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken warned in an interview published on Tuesday that Wagner was taking advantage of the instability caused by the coup in Niger, the group of Russian mercenaries having already moved closer to neighboring Mali.
US secretary of state tells BBC he doesn’t believe Wagner – who initiated a failed rebellion attempt against Moscow in June – was behind the coup that ousted the president elected Mohamed Bazoum from office. “I think what happened, and what continues to happen in Niger, was not orchestrated by Russia or Wagner,” said Antony Blinken. “But to the extent that they take advantage of it – and this is a repetition of what has happened in other countries, where they have only brought bad things in their wake – it is not a good thing,” he added. “Wherever Wagner went: death, destruction and exploitation followed,” he added.