Senior administration officials told reporters that the U.S. was taking action after exhausting all avenues to preserve constitutional order in the West African nation, including urging the military leaders to restore civilian rule within four months in compliance with the constitution. The coup designation comes with the suspension of counterterrorism assistance and military training as well as the pausing of certain foreign assistance programs worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
"As time has passed it's become clear that the (junta) officials that we've been dealing with did not want to abide by these constitutional guidelines and in fact they've told us that they've chosen to repeal that constitution and are in the process of creating a new draft with an uncertain timeline," said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues.
U.S. Ambassador to Niger Kathleen FitzGibbon remains in the country and has been in contact with the military junta, called the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, or CNSP, to address U.S. staff protection and logistical needs.
Any resumption of suspended assistance will require action by the CNSP to usher in democratic rule in a quick and credible timeframe and the release of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum who's been under house arrest with his wife and son since July, the administration officials said.
In August, Niger's military rulers said they would restore constitutional order within three years and would decide on the country's roadmap through the results from a national dialogue. They haven't specified when Bazoum and his family will be released.
Under U.S. law, a formal determination of a coup — the unconstitutional overthrow of a democratically elected government — typically results in a suspension of all non-humanitarian assistance, particularly military aid and cooperation, to the country concerned.
Comment: Note, this clearly means any coup not done under the direction of the US!
The Biden administration had been delaying a coup decision because Niger plays a critical role in U.S. counterterrorism activity in Africa's Sahel region and is seen by many countries as one of the last democratic nations in the region to partner with to counter jihadi violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali have had two coups each since 2020.
The U.S. had made Niger its main regional outpost for wide-ranging patrols by armed drones and other counterterror operations against Islamic extremist movements that over the years have seized territory, massacred civilians and battled foreign armies. The bases are a critical part of America's overall efforts in West Africa and Niger, hosting more than 1,000 troops in the country.
In the months since July's coup the U.S. has drawdown some of its troops and moved others from the air base near the capital Niamey, to another in Agadez about 560 miles (900 kilometers) away.
While a sizeable footprint remains in the country, those troops are not conducting either partnered training or counterterrorism missions, administration officials said, raising questions as to why they were staying.
The U.S. officials said that drone-based surveillance operations will continue and limited to force protection. Yet officials also acknowledged that troops needed to remain to monitor threats "more broadly in the region" to ensure the security vacuum in Niger doesn't create an opportunity for terrorist cells to exploit.
While the coup declaration comes with consequences, it reflects the reality of the situation, which indicates that the ousting of Bazoum is unlikely to be reversed, said Peter Pham, former U.S. special envoy for West Africa's Sahel region and a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council.
"The question then becomes, how do we best deal with this new reality?" he said.
"Pragmatism will better serve the long-term interests of both the people of Niger and those of the United States. After all, who would likely benefit if the progress in counterterrorism and development cooperation of recent years was sacrificed altogether just to virtue signal? Jihadist and other malevolent actors, including geopolitical rivals and/or their proxies," he said.
Reader Comments
Remember, no colonialism: Why Russia did not participate in the 'Scramble for Africa'
It is typically believed that Russia became actively involved in Africa only in the second half of the 20th century. Of course, it is true that, for ideological reasons, the Soviet Union supported...But being fed all your life, commie bad capitalism good is a cowboy and Indian black and white stupidity.
An example that I know, an oil pipeline was being build for and on behalf of BP. The engineers placed it through the middle of a village. BP ENGINEERS visited the village and told them they had to move. The villagers refused to move and rioted as the village contained there generations of there ancestors. .
The BP had access to Africom military police who exterminated the village. BP pipeline went through a non existent village. The difference between English and American business ventures compared to Russian and Chinese business ventures.
Contrary to the Kremlin’s bold anti-colonial assertions today, Russia was part and parcel of global European imperialism.
Russia has also been a factor in both countries’ elections, with election monitors linked to the Russian government providing a gloss of approval to highly problematic election practices.
In both Zimbabwe and Mozambique the engagement has been driven by elites, and is frequently characterised by high levels of opacity and possible corruption.
The arms trade is also why Russia is there.
Russia is expanding geopolitical influence through low cost ventures that hold economic windfalls for Moscow and President Vladimir Putin’s close associates. In this way, Russia’s strategy in Africa is both opportunistic and calculating. It is opportunistic in that it is willing to take risks and quickly deploy mercenary forces to crisis contexts when the opening presents itself, similar to what Moscow did in Syria. It is calculating in that it aims to expand Russia’s power projection including over strategic chokeholds in the eastern Mediterranean and Suez Canal that could affect NATO force deployments in times of crisis.
It's not family connections that keep them in power, it's because the wealthy maintain power. Family heirs thus continue to hold onto that power as wealth is passed down.
There is only one race-the human race.
And Stalin wasn't Russian he was Georgian.
You go on to provide supposed evidence in the form of quotations, which is fine and helpful. Facts, if true, are facts. But starting off by calling someone a dumbass is not conducive to having your evidence listened to, or taken seriously.
I hope we can all maintain a factual and civil discourse here, and if our opinion as to the interpretation of events is different from someone else's, I hope we can allow others to express theirs to us, in exchange for us expressing ours to them, rather than resort to schoolyard put-downs and disparagement. Ad hominem attacks are the weakest form of argument, usually resorted to by politicians, and charlatans posing as enlightened beings. (When I think back on political discourse for the past 50 years, I am struck all over again by the truth of that statement.)
Just a word of advice, distilled from 77 years of life experience. Thank you for listening!
So yea my response will then contain dumbass.
And being in opposition will keep the algos that apps,websites and search engines use to put you in a narrative, confused. I noticed that a couple of years back. Everything I searched or the advertisements or videos I watched went in one direction. I was only being fed what the algos believed I wanted. So now I keep it confused which does cause a lot of glitches to happen but better that than the alternative.
And for some reason people on here dont want to be critical thinkers. I like hearing both sides of the debate. It's the best way to know if both sides are wrong or if one is right.
I have been on SOTT for about 14 years, and have found the debate mostly civilized. There used to be a poster called Rowan Cocoan, now also passed away, a gentleman who was respected and loved by all, and was never discourteous or negative. If you look at this article, you will see what I mean. It became the forum for the SOTT community to post our condolences and sorrows at his loss. If we could maintain that tone, it would be a pleasure to exchange ideas and insights on this forum.
SOTT Focus:MSM Ignores Elephant in The Room, Gives Ridiculous Reasons For Major Increase in Vaccine-Related Health Conditions
In a previous article, I wrote about some alarming statistics showing increases in cardiovascular events among athletes, including heart attacks, strokes, and sudden deaths in 2021. The likely...And you have others like me who are questioning, refusing to accept bullshit. To question authority, to question wrong doing protecting those that are fearful young infirm or stupid from degenerates and reprobates. For that you need inner strength no fear and the right to bear witness again net tyranny.
And I ask, what right and/or what degree of personal healing (which equates 3D bodily balance) does LG hold to play 'authority'? Jumping into any conflict halfway is juvenile and/or neurotic pretentious arrogant n ignorant, even at 77!! WTF LG!! totally valueless after unrelenting months of daily violating McS's fundamental right and dignity AND after participating yourself. I read your own horrid personal sissy attacks on McS --and then when you saw the bullying keeping on you wrote a smart phrase about "gang rape" being witnessed by all (which I gratefully reposted many times, to NO AVAIL.) I must have read hundreds++ personal attacks on our brilliant generous fearless intellectual straight-spined and loving McS; JUST HORRIFYING!!!!
AS I wrote to you elsewhere LG!! ALL talk no walk. My 2cents, if you ever wish to heal you will have to get serious with your own pick n shovel. Said with pure ❤️ and you know it. ONLY life in the present holds 'cents'.
Below I link a study about LIES (that we tell ourselves n others) 1 approx. every 10 mins. A silent witness of violence not speaking up or when silent once violated is a lieing witness.
[Link]
WE also have about 60,000 thoughts per/day, 60,000 of which also belonged to yesterday.
OK now as for our beloved surfed-on kid-of-the-block RC 😔
RC had his moments of being discourteous and negative, being a journeying soul on the path of healing his own 3D aka ego-programming, aka self-love and not an ideal. RC had the gift of humility which when thrown against the boards, readily n willingly apologized and WALKED to better his own relating skills as well as making it up to the one he violated. Sometimes he'd wake up before swallowing the wave. LET'S STAY REAL.
(not proof-reading).
Most are a penny short of a shilling.
Which is not the global cop and rule maker anymore.
Everything in Washington, DC is Orwellian Newspeak. For example, the immense shit and sewage treatment plant just south of DC touts itself as the largest in the world, and calls itself the "Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant." No, I swear it's true. You can smell the "Blue Plains" a mile away, whatever they call it. [Link] It even has a chimney with an eternal blazing flame, burning off the methane generated by all the shit in DC.
It's kind of like calling the people who sit in the Capitol Building our "Government," and calling the words on our currency, "In God We Trust" our "national motto." (Unless, of course, the unspecified God referred to is Moloch.)
So it is impossible for BRICS to start a new currency. FACTS.
The dollar is the strongest currency in the world and nothing is challenging that anytime soon. The dollar controls over 70 trillion dollars worldwide.
Officials and economists have pointed out the difficulties involved in such a project, given the economic, political and geographic disparities between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Oh and all countries are in the process of switching over to digicurrency. The systems are in place they are just slowly removing physical currency from their markets.
Why is it illegal? The English law states any person can invoke the right to payment in cash. To change this law takes 80% of Parliament.
‘[T]he status of legal tender of those notes and coins implies, in principle, an obligation to accept those notes and coins and, on the other hand, that obligation may, in principle, be restricted by the Member States for reasons of public interest.
So no they can't invoke the right to pay in cash when it's not in Member states best interest.
Can I be so bold as point out the following.
1. We have never used Euros.
2. We are subject to our laws, and we the sovereign nation of Scotland as subject to statutes custom and practice.
3. These are trunk law. That cannot be changed because of sovereign rights.
The Scottish Banknotes bill never became law. Legal tender actually has a fairly narrow definition which is more to do with settling debts and has no bearing on whether a note should be accepted in a shop.
Businesses in Europe, Canada and the US are not required to accept cash payment.
One the note stated valve and underwritten by the Bank of England. I promise to pay the bearer! Me I’d prefer nothing from England not even there thieving fingers in my back pocket. Not them killing the old by fuel poverty. But then I’m part of the human race. Greed and avarice isn’t my god unlike the Americans and English.
Divert, Detract & Derail.
And it is a matter of fact that CIA/NSA/GCHQ do maintain troll farms to "influence" social media and forums. Lately often with a not-so-public implementation of an expert system (a.k.a. AI a.k.a. ChatGPT).
My point is, don't wast your time and your emotions.
Paper bank notes are being upgraded for a digital future around the world. People who prefer cash will have to use an electronic smart bank note.
Love change, fear staying the same. To have life remain the same would be just a different kind of death. Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.
Do not waste time on things you cannot change or influence.Learn to adapt, because those that don't suffer the most.
[Link]
The future is here.
Ignorants pretentious arrogants talkersNOTwalkers.... abusers violents bullies
Darkness never tries to swallow the dark. Only the LIGHT....
Time to pluck your heads out of your hinterseiten. Be adults and heal your own personal history and wounding. Love is a verb, not a 'word'. Act on some self-caring, will you's??? Simply follow the leader as has been so obviously, evidently n unabashedly n unrelenting demonstrated by McS
Violence violates the harmony, of life, of death.
You can have your opinions, I have mine.
[Link]
But of course you know better even though it’s still law today. Much to the annoyance of Tory degenerates and even though most principled Tories were deselected in this Americanised democracy at the last general election. Deselected because of there principles.
Your answer seems to be related to CBDCs, or not ?
By some coincidence - or not - neighbouring Nigeria had their last president ousted, because he forced a CBDC pilot project upon the Nigerian population on behalf of the EU/WEF, against the explicit will of the population. That would have been the second crucial leg the great-reset-total-control regime of the WEF cabal planned to rested upon, besides the mandatory clot shots. Both an abysmal failure.
Some things changed for the better lately.
My last post proves my point about payment in cash which you were looking for a link proving my point.
As your the one pointing a finger at mcs perhaps we should be looking to yourself.
I agree it’s not poignant to the post. But you deemed to challenge my honesty and integrity so it had to be answered.
Perhaps we should watch our loose lips n finger tips.
Enjoy some heart-opening family song.
[Link]
LG
14 years may be true but 'mostly civilized' it has not been nor does that mean much. I sure recall how you harrassed me much as well as many others right.... I didn't care I loved you's (but 1+2) still.
I’d never watch this on tv.
But I’m am passionate about the things that matter, deceit and outright lies. I bear witness to criminal actions of all regardless if it’s governments or individuals. I’m never going to be a sheep.
I love reading history Scottish history, first, as it wasn’t taught in our schools when I was a child. And the books haven’t yet been written that contains the real history. But I glean what I can.
If you want to be a fortune teller, read history. It … history…….repeats itself continually.
You have very flowery flow of words myself I’m straight to the point and the facts. But I’m willing to listen read and change my mind if someone can give me a logical alternative to my submission which challenges my ideas. Why not, we’re not all wrong all of the time.
I have no wish to be argumentative but nor am I willing to take the easy road of a sheep and friends with everyone. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Even when wrong but don’t expect me to compromise on morality honour truth or integrity or my justification to bear witness. It’s the manner in which I was brought up.
I don’t think I have ever had a cross word with you. Let’s us both hope we never do.
I do admit I try to use words that might instigate someones emotions to get them to think rationally and question there ideas and post. But never through venom!
You have written mean words, not to me no, but mean is mean.
I loved Newton Stewart n Dumfries, I felt so home with the 🐄 blackbelts lolll and the newborn lambs🥰
My 1st boyfriend was from Scotland n named Scott -- then i married a Scott for 1/4 century, a Calder -- I won't open that but I fry venom.
I simply point out that violence violates harmony. The present is all we got, still -- we can do better. None of us do TV, nor celebrities, and the majority hold a gorgeous heart here chez SOTT, that is a given.
As I wrote my godchild codis 😘 sentiMENTALITY is mostly confused for emotions.
I cannot disagree nor would I disagree with your sentiments.
But ….!would you stand back and let a four year old child cross a busy road?
No you by the very essence of your being as a human you would run to protect that child. Totally natural empathy and at one with your emotional being.
But when things aren’t obvious, when actions have serious long term implications to society do you ignore the facts? Do you wait until it’s too late? Or take action in the most insignificant way we have? Or do you break eggs to make an omelette !
Im unable to walk away from the obvious. I’m prepared to be ridiculed in the short term to become mainstream in the future. But the future can arrive faster if people question todays mainstream
As long as we walk our 'talk' we're on sked.
That sure is sweet 😋
You didn't happen to comment here for, sadly, a very short while 3 or 4 or 5 years ago until you had e'nuf of being bullied and stopped?
City-size comet racing toward Earth regrows 'horns' after massive volcanic eruption
The cryovolcanic comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, which will make its closest approach to Earth next year, has re-sprouted its distinctive "horns" after its second major eruption in four months. An enormous...Bullied. Please. Bring it on!
Until thrones were set up,
And the Ancient of Days took His seat;
His vesture was like white snow
And the hair of His head like pure wool.
His throne was ablaze with flames,
Its wheels were a burning fire.
Large Iron teeth-
A comets halo has iron and nickel in it. Scientists just discovered this two years ago. So how did the ancient civilization know?
White snow vesture- Is a comets icy tail.
Head of pure wool- The front of a comet that is white hot.
June 2 2024,Comet is classified by Nasa as a ‘near-Earth object.
Tao de Ching Chapter 79
Tao de Ching Chapter 81
Google 'opinion' definition codis and know that 'head people' are cold people.
Loose lips sink ships.
Enough said.