The United States Acting Deputy of State, Victoria Nuland who travelled to Niger in resolute commitment to support democracy, constitutional order, said military junta has refused to shift their ground making it quite difficult pushing for a negotiated solution.
Nuland while speaking to Pressmen through a briefing on Monday, stated further that she met with the self- proclaimed chief of defense of the Military operation, General Barmou, and three of the colonels supporting the lead of the Force.
According to her, I will say that these conversations were extremely frank and at times quite difficult because, again, we were pushing for a negotiated solution. It was not easy to get traction there.
“They are quite firm in their view on how they want to proceed, and does not comport with constitution of Niger. So again, we were very frank about what’s at stake. We kept open door to continue talking. But again, it was difficult today, and I will be straight up about that”, she said.
Nuland made it known that the military junta does not grant them access to see President Mohamed Bazoum who they asked for some gestures of health and welfare for and how the President is in a very difficult situation under virtual house arrest, along with his son and his wife.
Ag Deputy Secretary Nuland noted that she is on ground to get some negotiations going, and also to make absolutely clear what is at stake in their relationship, the economic and other kinds of support that United States will legally have to cut off if democracy is not restored.
She hope, over the coming period, the military junta who is responsible for the current situation will come back to those requests. “We were not granted an opportunity to see self- proclaimed president, Mr. Tiani. So we were left to have to depend on Mr. Barmou to make clear, again, what is at stake”.
Nuland disclosed how Secretary Antony Blinken have made repeated calls of support to the Nigerien President Bazoum, to check on his welfare and to talk about the road ahead since the current challenge to democratic order which began on July 26.
And how the Secretary is in regular touch with President Tinubu of Nigeria, who is currently head of ECOWAS, with AU Chairperson Faki, and with a number of European allies working in Niger, particularly on counterterrorism.
She emphasized the level of attention reflects the value that the United States place in this bilateral relationship and the huge amount of work done together to support and strengthen the economy, prosperity, hopes, security, and the work in counterterrorism.
