Niger is open to working with the United States as long as it respects its sovereignty, military-appointed Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zein said.
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In October, the United States, 2.5 months after the rebels seized power in Niger, officially recognized these events as a military coup.
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“You may have noticed that we had a meeting with a representative of the US government. We had a very frank conversation and reaffirmed our sovereignty. We told this country that if it wants, we are completely open to it and that it should integrate for us the need to open up to other countries,” Zain said.
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At the end of July, the Niger military, during a speech on national television, announced that President Mohamed Bazoum had been removed, the borders were closed, and a curfew had been declared. Before this, the military of the presidential guard blocked the presidential palace in the country’s capital, Niamey.
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Leaders of most Western countries and the regional organization ECOWAS condemned the coup.
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ECOWAS announced it was suspending financial aid to Niger, as well as imposing a travel ban and asset freeze on rebels, their families and anyone agreeing to take part in institutions created by the rebel military.
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Borders were also closed and commercial and financial transactions between the community countries and Niger were suspended. In early August, participants in an emergency meeting of the Chiefs of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the ECOWAS countries, held in Abuja, Nigeria, adopted a plan in the event of military intervention in Niger.
