The United States immediately called for Bazoum’s release. “I spoke with President Bazoum earlier this morning and made clear that the United States resolutely supports him as the democratically elected president of Niger,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in New Zealand. Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna, reporting from Washington, DC, said the developments in Niger were of great concern to the US and its Western allies. “Essentially, Niger is the last US ally left standing in that particular region of the world. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to Bazoum on Wednesday afternoon and “expressed his full support and solidarity”, a UN spokesperson tweeted.

Source: Daily Observer July 27, 2023 12:49 UTC