MADRID, 7 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Government of the United States has confirmed this Monday that it has maintained “direct” contacts with the coup junta of Niger, which controls the country after arresting President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, despite the fact that the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, He has insisted that Washington supports the mediation efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, has explained to the press that the Joe Biden Administration has called on the board “to step aside”, although in his appearance he has not offered more details about these conversations. Miller believes there is still room for the coup leaders to relinquish power and for Bazoum, considered an ally of the West, to return.
Washington considers it necessary to “restore the constitutional order” in the African country, as Blinken has expressed on the other hand, in an interview with the French channel RFI. “Diplomacy is the best method to resolve this situation,” said the head of US diplomacy, who has supported ECOWAS and has advanced that the United States will continue to discuss this issue with both its partners in Africa and Europe.
The coup already led Blinken himself to announce last week the suspension of aid to Niger, with the exception of that relating to humanitarian issues. The Department has recalled this Monday that said pause is not irreversible and has estimated the value of the funds at stake at least 100 million dollars.
