APA-Niamey (Niger) President Joe Biden’s envoys are visiting Niamey where they will meet the Nigerien authorities, who have been in power since July 2023, the US State Department has announced.
The Under Secretary of State for Africa, Molly Phee, as well as a senior Pentagon official, Celeste Wallander, and the Commander-in-Chief of the US Military Command for Africa (AFRICOM),
Michael Langley, will be in Niger on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a statement seen by APA.
On Tuesday 12 March, the Prime Minister of Niger, Lamime Zeine, met with an American delegation led by the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee, confirmed the public television
channel Tele Sahel, adding that the meeting had been extended to include members of the government and members of the National Council for the Protection of the Homeland (CNSP).
The delegation will meet the head of the military regime, General Abdourahamane Tiani, on 13 March.
According to the US State Department, the purpose of the talks is to “continue the discussions initiated in August with Niger’s military rulers on a return to democracy and the future of our security and
development partnership.”
The United States suspended its cooperation with Niger after the 26 July coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.
But it still has a thousand soldiers in Niger, stationed at a base in the desert and engaged in the fight against terrorism.
DS/ac/fss/as/APA