![]() Niger first gained independence from France in 1960. When Bazoum took presidential office in 2021, it was the country’s first democratic transfer of power following years of military coups. “Today I would like to address directly those holding him: free President Bazoum immediately and without conditions,” Guterres told press on Thursday. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres also said he had spoken with Bazoum “to convey to him all our solidarity.” Mahamat added that Nigerian mediators are in Niger for talks with rebels. The president’s whereabouts remain unknown, though several global leaders said they had spoken with him over the past 24 hours.īazoum is “feeling well,” Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said after speaking with him, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported. Niger lies at the heart of Africa’s Sahel region, which has seen numerous power grabs in recent years including in Mali and Burkina Faso.Ī key ally of the United States, France and other Western governments, Niger had been one of the few remaining democracies in a region fraught with Islamist insurgencies. The military’s statement on Thursday also warned against foreign military intervention, which it said “risks having disastrous and uncontrolled consequences.” Men in military fatigues later issued a video statement asserting control of the country. The Nigerien army command said Thursday that it supported the apparent takeover of President Mohamed Bazoum’s government in hopes of preventing bloodshed and maintaining “the well-being of our populations.”īazoum was reportedly seized by members of the presidential guard on Wednesday. “But I don’t think that the President can ever be satisfied when there’s loss of life from men and women in uniform.”ĬNN’s Barbara Starr, Zachary Cohen and Daniella Diaz contributed to this report.Niger’s military has backed coup leaders who have claim to have seized power in the West African country, prompting warnings from the international community. “I believe they’re still looking into the details of that,” Sanders replied. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders was asked Wednesday whether President Donald Trump was satisfied with the information he has received about the mission and ambush. La David Johnson was recovered nearly 48 hours after his 12-member team was ambushed by 50 ISIS fighters in Niger. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Mattis did not provide additional details into why the body of Sgt. The investigation will be an effort “to get all the facts correct,” an administration official familiar with the review has told CNN. Three senior US officials have told CNN that Defense Secretary James Mattis wants answers regarding the ambush on October 4. What we know and don’t know about the deadly Niger attack ![]() ![]() ![]() The Wall Street Journal earlier reported the FBI’s involvement. The investigators are based out of US embassies in nearby African countries, the official said, and reiterates the FBI role in Niger is not unprecedented, as the bureau often lends its expertise into terror investigations abroad. The FBI is assisting Niger authorities in the investigation of the deaths of four US servicemen, a law enforcement official tells CNN, a routine step for the bureau when US citizens are killed overseas.Īnother US official said FBI investigators are on the ground in Niger providing technical assistance and helping to gather and evaluate evidence related to the attack. ![]()
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