US warns military junta in Niger not to harm detained president safety

The United States of America announced its joining the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in calling for the restoration of the constitutional order in Niger, warning against harming the safety of the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, his family and detained members of the government, stressing at the same time that it will hold the military junta that seized power in Niger responsible for the safety of Bazoum and those detained with him.US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a statement issued by the US State Department that the United States appreciates the insistence of ECOWAS to explore all options for a peaceful solution to the crisis.ECOWAS issued Thursday an order to activate a reserve force for possible use against the military junta that seized power in Niger last July. The bloc stressed that it wants to restore democracy in a peaceful way, but it keeps all options on the table, including the use of force.The military junta in Niger did not care about a deadline set by ECOWAS until the sixth of August to restore matters to normal, instead, it closed the airspace and said it would defend the country against any foreign attack.ECOWAS has pledged to impose sanctions, travel bans and asset freezes on those who obstruct Bazoum's return to power.The United States recently suspended some foreign aid programs for Niger after Bazoum was overthrown by the military junta.