Biden Administration Yet To Label Events In Niger A Coup As Deposed Leader's Meeting With Chad President Spurs Glimmer Of Hope

The United States expressed a glimmer of hope for a possible reversal of the recent military coup in Niger, as Chad’s leader met with the ousted president in an attempt to mediate the crisis.

What Happened: Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s democratically elected president, who was overthrown last week, was seen in photographs released on Monday, meeting with Chad’s leader, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, NBC News reported.

Bazoum was photographed in Niger’s capital, Niamey, appearing unharmed and in good spirits.

Déby, who arrived in Niger on Sunday to mediate, also met with the coup leaders, expressing his intent to find a peaceful resolution.

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However, the military junta seems to be consolidating its power, having arrested 130 members of the president’s party, including four officials from Bazoum’s deposed cabinet.

The Biden administration has yet to label the events in Niger as a coup. If the U.S. officially declares it as such, it would necessitate the suspension of all U.S. economic and military aid to the country.

"It's an attempted takeover," a senior State Department official told the media.

"We don't think it's fully successful, and we think there's a narrow opportunity to reverse it."

Why It Matters: France, Germany and the European Union have called the takeover by the military officers a coup.

The coup in Niger threatens to destabilize the Western-backed counterterrorism campaign in Africa’s volatile Sahel region. Niger has been a key player in this campaign, with approximately 1,110 U.S. troops and 1,500 French troops on the ground, aiding Niger’s special forces in combating Boko Haram, Islamic State militants, and al Qaeda-linked groups.

The coup leaders have been given a week by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore democratic rule or face possible military intervention.

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