The United States’ Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee, has arrived in Nigeria. This visit aims to mediate the situation in Niger, which has been under military rule since July 26.
The announcement of Phee’s visit was disclosed through an official statement on the U.S. Secretary of State’s website.
She landed in Nigeria on Friday and is scheduled to engage in discussions with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and other key leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
A key agenda item during her visit involves a meeting with regional leaders who are set to convene for the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit on Monday, December 10.
The discussions aim to explore avenues through which the United States can extend support to regional initiatives focused on reinstating Niger onto a democratic trajectory.
Additionally, the talks seek to advance objectives related to bolstering security, ensuring stability, fostering prosperity, and upholding democratic principles in the Sahel region.
The U.S. envoy’s presence in Nigeria comes in the wake of the July 26 coup in Niger, orchestrated by a faction of military officers led by Abdourahmane Tchiani, resulting in the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum.
Western nations have widely condemned this coup, extending support to African Union and ECOWAS-led efforts, spearheaded by President Tinubu, to address the crisis.
In response to the military takeover, ECOWAS, under President Tinubu’s leadership, imposed a series of sanctions on Niger, aiming to pressure for the restoration of constitutional order in the country.
The military junta defended its actions, citing President Bazoum’s failure to effectively address the persistent security challenges in various parts of the nation as the rationale behind the ousting of the democratic government.