Blinken calls deposed Niger leader ahead of expected US declaration

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Niger’s deposed President Mohamed Bazoum ahead of an expected decision by the Biden administration to formally declare that his overthrow was a coup d’etat.
The State Department said Blinken called Bazoum to stress that a restoration of a freely elected government remains the best way for Niger to not only succeed for its people but also to remain a key partner of the U.S. and others in countering extremism.
In the call, Blinken “reiterated that a democratically elected, civilian-led government presents the best opportunity to ensure that Niger remains a strong partner in security and development in the region,”
Blinken’s call came as the Democratic administration is preparing to make a formal determination that July’s military takeover in the central African nation meets the legal standard for a coup.