'Extremely frank and at times quite difficult', that's how the Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland described the face-to-face talks with Niger's military leaders. The US official said the offer of help wasn't 'taken up on that offer'.
By Kathryn Armstrong in London & Nduka Orjinmo in AbujaA senior US official has held face-to-face talks with Niger's military leaders following last month's coup.
Washington has said the coup can still be ended diplomatically and President Mohamed Bazoum reinstated, but has suspended aid payments in the meantime.Ecowas - a trading bloc of 15 West African states - had issued a 23:00 GMT Sunday deadline to Niger's junta leaders to stand down and restore the elected president.
Gen Tchiani, a former chief of the presidential guard to Mr Bazoum, seized power on 26 July, saying he wanted to avert "the gradual and inevitable demise" of Niger.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Niger: Military Intervention in Niger Would Be Complicated and Messy, Analysts WarnAnalysis - An array of geopolitical commentators, historians, journalists as well as social and environmental activists warned on Monday in leading French media outlets of the cataclysm likely to engulf west Africa if fighting breaks out in Niger between the forces that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on 26 July and troops from the surrounding countries.
Read more »
Top US official traveled to Niger and held 'difficult' talks with junta officialsU.S. State Department's acting No. 2 traveled to Niger and held talks on Monday with senior officials from the country's junta which seized power last month, but made no progress in meetings she described as 'difficult'.
Read more »
Pressure mounts on Niger coup leaders as deadline nears
Read more »
France backs West African efforts to make Niger coup fail - SABC NewsFrance will support efforts by the West African regional grouping ECOWAS to make the military coup in Niger fail, the French foreign ministry said on Saturday.
Read more »
Pressure mounts on Niger coup leaders as deadline approaches | News24Pressure on Niger's coup leaders mounted Sunday with the approach of the deadline set by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS for the military to relinquish control or face possible armed intervention.
Read more »