The announcement made on public television Thursday night aggravates the post-coup isolation of what was the last major security partner of the United States and its allies in the Sahel, the vast region south of the Sahara desert. which several Islamic extremist groups have turned into the global center of terrorism.
With two days to go until the deadline set by the West African regional bloc to release and reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum or face possible force, the president said in a Washington Post op-ed that “I write this as a hostage”.
The deadline given by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to the mutinous soldiers expires on Sunday. The bloc’s envoys arrived at the airport in the capital Niamey on Thursday for talks.
But hours later, the board’s announcement cast doubt on any potential deal. The military said it was ending any military agreement and protocol signed with France and announced the termination of the functions of the country’s ambassadors to France, the United States, Togo and neighboring Nigeria, which is leading ECOWAS dialogue efforts.
In the article, Bazoum claimed that Niger’s security situation was improving before the uprising, unlike neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, which are run by military juntas, but noted that this was in jeopardy as the country will lose help from foreign partners and extremist groups will take advantage of the instability.
“Now that we need it, I call on the United States government and the entire international community to help us restore our constitutional order,” he wrote.
The United States has 1,100 troops in Niger and is reluctant to withdraw.
FOUNTAIN: Associated Press
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