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☆ Fact Check-No evidence Niger coup leaders told US to keep its aid for its own homeless
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

“The United States of America threatens to withhold aid to Niger due to the military takeover […] Niger Military says they should keep their aid and give it to their millions of Homeless people in the United States,” reads part of an Aug. 1 Instagram post that gained over 9,000 likes in two hours (here). U.S. officials have said cutting aid is a possibility if the military takeover continues. Per the report, U.S. law on foreign aid prohibits providing most aid where an elected leader has been deposed via a coup d’etat or decree. France and the European Union have already cut off financial aid, Reuters reported on Saturday (here). As of Aug. 2, there is no evidence Niger’s military leaders publicly said the United States should “keep their aid” in response to American threats to cut ties amid the African country’s military coup.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Mohamed Bazoum, John Kirby, Biden, Tiani, “, Read Organizations: U.S, ., Homeless, Facebook, Reuters, Department, White House, European Union Locations: Niger, West, United States, America, U.S, Washington, France

☆ Niger junta says it will not back down despite 'inhumane' sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

In a televised address, Abdourahamane Tiani said the junta "rejects these sanctions altogether and refuses to give into any threats, wherever they come from. Nigeria cut power supplies to Niger, a Niger state utility document showed on Wednesday, while truckers in Niamey were stranded by border closures - early signs of fallout from the bloc's sweeping sanctions that Tiani described as "illegal, unjust, and inhumane." "The task of restoring democratic governance in Niger is fraught with potential hurdles and complications," said General Christopher Musa, Nigeria's Chief of Defence and Chairman of the ECOWAS Defence Chiefs. In a further sign of the mounting pressure on the junta, the World Bank on Wednesday suspended disbursements to Niger until further notice. Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium, the radioactive metal widely used for nuclear energy and treating cancer.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Abdourahamane Tiani, Abdel, Fatau Musah, Christopher Musa, James, Bola Tinubu, Annalena Baerbock, Camillus Eboh, Felix Onuah, Christophe Van Der Perre, Ingrid Melander, Nellie Peyton, Alessandra Prentice, Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie, Grant McCool Organizations: Islamists, West African, West African States, ECOWAS, Political Affairs, Peace, Security, Defence, ECOWAS Defence Chiefs, REUTERS, British, World Bank, European Union, Islamic, Union, Thomson Locations: Niger, Abuja Niger, Islamists Mali, Burkina Faso, NIAMEY, ABUJA, West Africa, Mali, Guinea, Bissau, Nigerian, Abuja, Nigeria, Niamey, Nigeria's, Nigerien, disbursements, States, France, Italy, Paris, Rome, United States, Germany, al Qaeda, Islamic State

☆ West African bloc sends mission to Niger to negotiate with coup leaders
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Nigerien security forces prepare to disperse pro-junta demonstrators gathered outside the French embassy, in Niamey, the capital city of Niger July 30, 2023. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has imposed sanctions on Niger and threatened to authorise the use of force if the coup leaders do not reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum within a week from last Sunday. "There is a need to demonstrate that we cannot only bark but can bite," he told reporters, as regional defence chiefs started a two-day meeting in the Nigerian capital Abuja. "The task of restoring democratic governance in Niger is fraught with potential hurdles and complications," said General Christopher Musa, Nigeria's Chief of Defence and Chairman of the ECOWAS Defence Chiefs. Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium, the radioactive metal widely used for nuclear energy and treating cancer.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Abdel, Fatau Musah, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Abubakar, Christopher Musa, Abdourahmane Tiani, Bazoum, James, Bola Tinubu, Annalena Baerbock, Charles, Camillus Eboh, Felix Onuah, Christophe Van Der Perre, Ingrid Melander, Nellie Peyton, Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Abuja Junta, Islamists, African, ECOWAS, West African States, Political Affairs, Peace, Security, Defence, ECOWAS Defence Chiefs, British, European Union, Reuters, Islamic, Union, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, Abuja, Islamists Mali, Burkina Faso, NIAMEY, ABUJA, Nigerian, West Africa, Mali, Guinea, Bissau, Nigeria's, France, Italy, Paris, Rome, United States, Germany, al Qaeda, Islamic State

Last week, Tiani, a general, used his position and manpower to do the opposite. "We cannot continue with the same approaches proposed so far, as it risks witnessing the gradual and inevitable disappearance of our nation," he said. Regional powers have threatened military intervention if he does not return Bazoum to power within days. Just last week, Niger, one of the world's poorest countries, was seen as the West's last ally in the region. The speed of change in Niger is evident in Tiani's biography.

Persons: Tiani, Abdourahamane Tiani, Mohamed Bazoum, Fatherland ,, Emelia Sithole, Edward McAllister Organizations: UN, College of International Security Affairs, Fort McNair, United Nations, Democratic, European Union, Reuters, National Council, Fatherland, State, Thomson Locations: France, Senegal NIAMEY, West, Central Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, Filingué, Niger, Agadez, Morocco, Senegal, United States, Washington , DC, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, U.S

CNN —US troops in Niger have been restricted to the American military base in Agadez, Niger, as the Biden administration works to restore democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum to power. A US military official said the approximately 1,000 troops were “retrograded” back to the base last week, shortly after Bazoum was seized by members of the presidential guard on Wednesday. “We’re working really, really hard to see if we can turn this around,” said a senior State Department official on Monday. But the Pentagon is engaging in “strategic patience as we monitor the situation and see how it resolves itself,” the military official said. The US has had troops in Niger for around a decade, mostly advising and training Nigerien forces on counterterrorism efforts.

Persons: Biden, Mohamed Bazoum, Bazoum, ”, Mark Milley, Dave Butler, “ There’s, Abdourahamane Tiani, they’ve, “, Wagner, Yevgeny, Prigozhin Organizations: CNN, Nigerien, State Department, US Joint Chiefs, Staff Locations: Niger, Agadez, ”, Bazoum

☆ Chad's president holds talks with coup leader in Niger
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsChad's president holds talks with coup leader in NigerPostedChad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby met with Niger coup chief, General Abdourahamane Tiani, in Niger's capital Niamey on Sunday (July 30), after attending a summit with West African state leaders.

Persons: Mahamat Idriss Deby, General Abdourahamane Tiani Locations: Niger, Niger's, Niamey

It has yet to disburse a $131.5 million loan to Niger that was approved on July 5, it added. The interior minister, transport minister, and a deputy had already been detained, it added. The arrests confirm the "repressive and dictatorial" nature of the coup leaders, the party said in a statement, calling on citizens to come together to protect democracy. The arrests were announced a day after Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby arrived in Niger to try to mediate between the coup leaders and the ousted government. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, last week welcomed the coup in Niger, and said his forces were available to restore order.

Persons: Niger's, Mohamed Bazoum, Mahamane Sani Mahamadou, Issoufou Mahamadou, Mahamat Idriss Deby, Deby, Bazoum, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Abdourahamane Tiani, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russia's Wagner, Antonio Tajani, Boureima Balima, Abdel, Kader Mazou, Anait Miridzhanian, Bate Felix, Nellie Peyton, Sofia Christensen, Alexander Winning, Bernadette Baum, Andrew Heavens, Nick Macfie Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, CFA, West, African Union, European Union, Islamic, Junta, Nigerien Party for Democracy and, Chadian, ECOWAS, EU, REUTERS, Twitter, French Foreign Ministry, Paris, White, Thomson Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, West, Central Africa, United States, France, Islamic State, al Qaeda, EU, U.S, Nigerien, Niamey, Mali, Burkina Faso, Russia, Niger's

☆ West African leaders meet over Niger coup, junta warns against intervention
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Niger's military leaders warned against any armed intervention in the country as West African leaders are set to gather in Nigeria's capital on Sunday for an emergency summit to decide on further actions to pressure the army to restore constitutional order. Heads of state of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the eight-member West African Economic and Monetary Union could suspend Niger from its institutions, cut off the country from the regional central bank and financial market, and close borders. Niger's eastern neighbor Chad, a non-member of both regional organizations, has been invited to the ECOWAS summit, a statement from the Chadian president's office said on Saturday. The West African leaders could also for the first time, consider a military intervention to restore President Mohamed Bazoum who was ousted when General Abdourahamane Tiani was declared the new head of state on Friday. Ahead of the Sunday summit, the military leaders in Niger on Saturday night, warned in a statement read on Niger national television on Saturday night against any military intervention.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, General Abdourahamane Tiani, Amadou Abdramane, Bazoum Organizations: Nigerien, Nigerien Party for Democracy and, West African States, ECOWAS, West African Economic, Monetary Union, Chadian, World Bank, West, Niger, European Union, African Union Locations: Niamey, Niger, Chad, . Niger, France, United States, West, Central

[1/9] Demonstrators gather in support of the putschist soldiers in Niamey, the capital city of Niger July 30, 2023. Images showed fires at the walls of the French Embassy and people being loaded into ambulances with bloodied legs. Military officials involved in the coup would be banned from travelling and have their assets frozen, it added. The Niger military rulers later asked protesters to abstain from vandalism and destruction of property. The European Union and France have cut off financial support to Niger and the United States has threatened to do the same.

Persons: Stringer, Mohammed Bazoum, General Abdourahamane Tiani, Amadou Abdramane, Sani Idrissa, Russia's Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Boureima Balima, Moussa Aksar, Felix Onuah, Elizabeth Pineau, Bate Felix, Andrew Cawthorne, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Pro, Niamey Military, Sahel region's, French Embassy, Economic, West, West African Economic, Monetary Union, Military, United Nations, African Union, European Union, World Bank, The, ECOWAS, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, Sahel, NIAMEY, ABUJA, Niger's, Nigeria, States, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, United States, France, The United States, Italy, Germany, French, Niger national, Russian, Abuja, Paris

☆ Blinken calls for immediate release of ousted Niger president
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, July 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Saturday for the immediate release of ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum and the restoration of democratic order in the country. Leaders of a coup in Niger declared General Abdourahamane Tiani as head of state on Friday, saying they had ousted Bazoum in the seventh military takeover in West and Central Africa in less than three years. Blinken told journalists in Brisbane, Australia he had spoken to Bazoum by telephone, without providing further details. The U.S. is calling for his immediate release and restoration of democratic order, Blinken added. Before the uprising, Niger was seen as the West's most stable ally in an unstable region.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Mohamed Bazoum, Abdourahamane Tiani, Bazoum, Blinken, Praveen Menon, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Niger, Thomson Locations: Niger, West, Central Africa, Brisbane, Australia, U.S

CNN —The European Union suspended all security cooperation and will no longer provide financial support to Niger following the coup in the West African country, the bloc’s top diplomat said. Abdourahamane Tiani, a general who leads the country’s presidential guard, was declared the country’s new leader after President Mohamed Bazoum was detained earlier this week. “President Bazoum was democratically elected; he is and remains the only legitimate President of Niger. The African Union on Saturday demanded that Nigerien military personnel “immediately and unconditionally return to their barracks and restore constitutional authority,” within 15 days. Niger lies at the heart of Africa’s Sahel region, which has seen numerous power grabs in recent years including in Mali and Burkina Faso.

Persons: Abdourahamane, Mohamed Bazoum, ”, Josep Borell, Bazoum, “, ” Borell, Emmanuel Macron, insurgencies Organizations: CNN, European Union, Nigerien, African Union, Saturday, Economic, West, Niger Locations: Niger, West, Washington, Moscow, West African States, Sahel, Mali, Burkina Faso, United States, France

☆ Niger loses aid as Western countries condemn coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, receiving close to $2 billion a year in official development assistance, according to the World Bank. It is also a key security partner of Western countries such as France and the United States, which use it as a base for their efforts to contain an Islamist insurgency in West and Central Africa's Sahel region. Bazoum has not been heard from since early Thursday when he was confined within the presidential palace, although the European Union, France and others say they still recognize him as the legitimate president. Niger is a key partner of the European Union in helping curb the flow of irregular migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. The United States has two military bases in Niger with some 1,100 soldiers, and also provides hundreds of millions of dollars to the country in security and development aid.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, General Abdourahamane Tiani, Bazoum, Josep Borrell, Antony Blinken, Moussa Aksar, Kate Abnett, Nellie Peyton, Giles Elgood Organizations: REUTERS, European, World Bank, European Union, EU, United, United Nations, West African States, Security, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, NIAMEY, United States, France, West, Central, EU, Saharan Africa, Antony Blinken ., Bazoum, Nigeria, Brussels

☆ Niger coup leaders dissolve govt, declare Tiani head of state
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Moussa Aksar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NIAMEY, July 28 (Reuters) - Leaders of the coup in Niger declared General Abdourahamane Tiani as the new head of state on Friday, and said they had suspended the constitution and dissolved all former institutions after overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum. He represents the state of Niger in international relations," an officer said, reading out a statement. African countries, Western powers, regional and international organizations have reacted with alarm to the coup in Niger, insisting that Bazoum be freed and constitutional order restored. Niger borders three countries - Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad - that have also experienced military coups in the last two years. Niger so far has held them off better than Mali and Burkina Faso, where violence has only worsened since the military coups.

Persons: Abdourahamane Tiani, Mohamed Bazoum, Tiani, Bazoum, Josep Borrell, Kamala Harris, Boris Pistorius, Bate Felix, Anait, Nellie Peyton, John Stonestreet, Angus MacSwan, Nick Macfie Organizations: National Council, Bazoum, REUTERS, Islamic, West African States, European Union, United, European, EU, German, Spiegel, Thomson Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, France, Niamey, al Qaeda, Islamic State, West Africa's, Nigeria, Guinea, United States, Africa, EU, Germany, Italy

☆ Factbox: Who is Niger's new leader, Abdourahamane Tiani?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NIAMEY, July 28 (Reuters) - General Abdourahamane Tiani, the commander of Niger's presidential guard, was appointed head of state on Friday by a governing council set up by military forces that ousted President Mohammed Bazoum. Here are five facts about him:BACKGROUNDTiani is from Filingue, in the Nigerien region of Tillaberi, which borders Mali. RISE TO ELITE UNITThe 62-year-old decorated general and former military attache at Niger's embassy in Germany has led the elite presidential guard unit since 2011. FIGHT AGAINST CONTRABANDHe also served as head of a battalion in Agadez and led military operations in the Niger desert against contraband and drug traffickers. Reporting by Moussa Aksar; Writing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise; Editing by Conor HumphriesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Abdourahamane Tiani, Mohammed Bazoum, Tiani, Moussa Aksar, Emelia Sithole, Conor Humphries Organizations: UNIT, French UTA, Thomson Locations: NIAMEY, Filingue, Nigerien, Tillaberi, Mali, Germany, French, Bilma, Niger, Agadez

☆ Niger coup leaders name Tiani as leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsNiger coup leaders name Tiani as leaderPostedLeaders of a coup in Niger declared General Abdourahamane Tiani as the new head of state on Friday (July 28) days after saying they had ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Rachel Faber has more.

Persons: Tiani, Abdourahamane Tiani, Mohamed Bazoum, Rachel Faber Locations: Niger

CNN —A Niger general, Abdourahamane Tiani, appeared on state television as the country’s new leader following a military coup that sparked international condemnation. Tiani said in the broadcast that Wednesday’s coup was motivated by both the desire to “preserve our homeland” in a context of a “deteriorating security situation,” and poor economic and social governance. French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that the coup was “deeply dangerous for Niger and the whole region,” and called for Bazoum’s release. However, a senior official loyal to Bazoum has suggested there is discord among coup leaders. The aide spoke on condition of not being identified because of the security situation.

Persons: Abdourahamane Tiani, Tiani, “, Mohamed Bazoum’s, Abdourahamane, ” Bazoum, Mahamadou Issoufou, insurgencies, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, –, Catherine Colonna, Bazoum, ”, they’ve, United Nations Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Bazoum “, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Mahamat, General Antonio Guterres, Maj, Amadou Abdramane, ” Abdramane Organizations: CNN, African, AFP, Télé, Getty, Nigerien, Union, Bazoum, National Council for, ECOWAS, United Nations, African Union Commission, RIA Novosti, UN Locations: Niger, France, Télé Sahel, Sahel, AFP, Mali, Burkina Faso, United States, Papua New Guinea, Niamey

July 28 (Reuters) - The United States and its partners are communicating with military leaders in Niger, a State Department spokesperson said on Friday, as Washington warned a military takeover could end U.S. cooperation with the nation. Coup leaders in Niger on Friday declared General Abdourahamane Tiani as the new head of state following the seventh military takeover in West and Central Africa in less than three years. Military leaders from ECOWAS nations and international partners including the United States are in communication with a broad array of military leaders in Niger," the State Department spokesperson said. So far in fiscal year 2023, the U.S. has provided nearly $138 million in humanitarian assistance for vulnerable populations in Niger, the State Department spokesperson said. The State Department spokesperson said there was no announcement about when she would travel to Niger.

Persons: Abdourahamane Tiani, John Kirby, Washington, Washington's, Biden, Kirby, Lloyd Austin, Kathleen FitzGibbon, Steve Holland, Daphne Psaledakis, Phil Stewart, Patricia Zengerle, David Ljunggren, Jonathan Oatis, Sandra Maler, Don Durfee, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: State Department, Friday, Military, White House, U.S . Agency for International Development, ., Pentagon, DoD, Department of Defense, The State Department, Thomson Locations: United States, Niger, Washington, West, Central Africa, U.S, Africa's, Niger . U.S

☆ Niger response: 'Washington has to thread a very difficult needle'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —The United States and its Western allies are faced with a difficult conundrum as they navigate potential responses to the military takeover in Niger if democratic rule is not restored. Experts told CNN that punitive measures could push Niger toward Russian mercenary groups like Wagner and away from its partners in the West. US officials have said there are no indications that the organization was involved in the military takeover. We don’t really know who this new general is” who has seized power, she told CNN. Felbab-Brown told CNN that Prigozhin is trying to “personally” take advantage, given his “precarious” place following his failed revolt.

Persons: Biden, Vedant Patel, John Kirby, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, ”, Cameron Hudson, ‘, Antony Blinken, Vanda Felbab, Brown, Bob Menendez, Jim Risch, Kirby, Mohamed Bazoum, Gen, Abdourahamane Tiani, Bazoum, “, ” Hudson, Kamissa Camara, Camara, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, We’re, ” Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, “ It’s, Prigozhin, Putin, shouldn’t, ” Kirby, Blinken, United Nations Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Kamala Harris, Bola Tinubu, African Affairs Molly Phee, Hassoumi Massoudou, Mahamadou Issoufou “, Patel Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Nigerien, State Department, National Security Council, Experts, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Central African, West, Brookings, Senate Foreign Relations, Democratic, US Institute of Peace, Russian Foreign Ministry, African Union, Economic, West African States, United Nations, African Affairs, Nigerien Foreign, ” State Department Locations: United States, Niger, Russian, Africa, “ Washington, Sahel, Mali, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Niamey, “, Hudson, Russia, St . Petersburg, Moscow, Sudan, New Zealand, Nigeria

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