At an emergency summit in Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc demanded Bazoum be reinstated within a week. “The United States will remain actively engaged with ECOWAS and West African leaders on next steps to preserve Niger’s hard-earned democracy,” Blinken added. In the capital Niamey, thousands of people waving Russian and Niger flags rallied outside the national parliament in a show of support for the junta. Moscow has for years strived to increase its influence in Africa, and in Niger’s neighbour Mali — another impoverished former French colony — the military junta has been cooperating with forces from Russia. France — which has 1,500 soldiers in Niger — said on Saturday it was suspending development aid and budgetary support to the West African nation.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 31, 2023 01:56 UTC