Pentagon suspends operations with Niger’s army after coup

The Pentagon on Tuesday suspended safety cooperation with Niger’s army following final week’s ouster of the nation’s democratically-elected president, a coup that has already prompted a number of European nations to start evacuating their residents.

In a area the place Islamist terror group have grow to be more and more lively in recent times, the U.S. has about 1,100 troops within the nation, principally at a army base within the northern metropolis of Agadez. Pentagon officers mentioned the troops are being saved on the base as officers in Washington monitor the state of affairs in Niger.

“None of the U.S. forces have been pulled out. They are all still there,” Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, informed reporters. “We’re closely monitoring the situation. It continues to remain very fluid.”

Niger, a former French colony, had been a uncommon democratic success story within the area, with incumbent President Mohamed Bazoum taking workplace in a peaceable switch of energy in 2021. But the pinnacle of the president army safety element staged the coup, accusing the federal government of missing the desire to take care of the nation’s mounting safety challenges.

On Sunday, pro-coup protesters attacked France’s embassy within the capital, Niamey, whereas the army on Monday arrested a number of officers of the Bazoum authorities in addition to the pinnacle of the ruling get together. The violence prompted officers in Paris to announce the evacuation of French residents and any Europeans who wish to depart.

“The closure of the air space has left our compatriots unable to leave the country by their own means,” France’s Foreign Ministry mentioned Tuesday in an announcement. “The evacuation will begin today.”

Gen. Ryder mentioned the U.S. is encouraging any U.S. residents in Niger to maintain in shut contact with the American Embassy. “All indications right now are that there’s no imminent threat against any U.S. personnel or American citizens,” he mentioned.

Niger below Mr. Bazoum had been seen as a dependable associate to the West within the battle towards jihadists in Africa’s Sahel area. The U.S., France and different European nations have helped prepare the nation’s armed forces.

Prime Minister Mahamoudou Mahamadou, on journey in Europe when the coup was staged, informed the Associated Press from France Tuesday that Niger must be thought of a linchpin for supporting democracy within the area towards the unfold of terrorism.

“It’s a catastrophe because Niger is a fragile country. It’s already a country where nearly 4 million people live in food insecurity,” Mr. Mahamadou mentioned. “It’s a country with 300,000 refugees and as many internally displaced people.”

While the Biden administration had but to formally characterize the ouster as a “coup,” Mr. Mahamadou mentioned it comes quickly after comparable occasions in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea since 2020. A proper coup declaration by legislation would pressure Mr. Biden to close down safety and help applications with Niger, a transfer officers say would undercut American leverage within the disaster.

Mr. Mahamadou informed the AP that he stays in touch with Niger’s president who’s in “good spirits” and “ready to face the situation.”

The West African regional physique often called ECOWAS introduced journey and financial sanctions towards Niger on Sunday and mentioned it may use pressure if coup leaders don’t reinstate Mr. Bazoum inside one week, the information service reported.

U.N. particular envoy for West Africa and the Sahel Leonardo Santos Simao informed reporters Tuesday he expects ECOWAS to go forward with the deployment of troops to Niger if Mr. Bazoum isn’t restored to energy, however held out hope extra bloodshed may very well be averted.

But army junta governments in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso have already come out in assist of the coup leaders in Niger and warned outdoors powers of making an attempt to intervene.