Niger’s military ruler General Abdourahamane Tiani on Thursday arrived in Mali to meet his counterpart Colonel Assimi Goita in his first international visit since seizing power in July, an AFP journalist noted. Niger’s neighbours, Mali and Burkina Faso — which are ruled by military leaders who seized power in 2020 and 2022, respectively — have pledged solidarity to Niger’s coup leaders. “It would seem that the purpose of the embargo was to exert pressure on the authorities. Shortly after taking power, Tiani pledged to return Niger to civilian rule within three years. Mali, meanwhile, has indefinitely postponed a presidential election that was scheduled for early 2024.

Source: Punch November 24, 2023 02:39 UTC