France, US Back ECOWAS Resolutions on Niger Republic

 

US and France have thrown their support behind the West African bloc ECOWAS on its plan for Niger Republic.

 

But the countries didn't explicitly back a call at a summit for military intervention.

 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced support for efforts of ECOWAS on Thursday.

 

“ECOWAS, an organization that brings together West African countries, is playing a key role in making clear the imperative of a return to constitutional order, and we very much support ECOWAS’ leadership and work on this,” he said.

 

At a summit in Abuja, the West African bloc supported a standby military force for Niger.

 

The United States has in recent days cautioned that military force should be only a last resort and that diplomacy was the best way to resolve the crisis.

 

Blinken also renewed alarm about the health of detained elected president Mohamed Bazoum, whom he has spoken to around half a dozen times by telephone since the military takeover of July 26.

“We have deep concern for him, for his family, for his security and well-being,” Blinken said.

 

 

Niger’s Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou recently said that Bazoum was being held with his wife and son without electricity or water.

 

France reiterated its strong condemnation of the coup attempt under way in Niger and of the detention of President Bazoum and his family.

 

At an Extraordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) attended by Nigerien Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou, the presidents of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo reiterated their determination to ensure the restoration of constitutional and democratic order in Niger and the release of President Bazoum and his family.

 

France also reaffirmed its full support for all of the conclusions adopted at this Extraordinary Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held on August 10, 2023.