The U.S. is raising concerns over the escalating situation in Niger. ECOWAS, the bloc of West African nations, has ramped up its rhetoric, suggesting a possible military intervention if the problem doesn’t improve.
State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel stressed diplomacy’s importance while voicing U.S. support for ECOWAS. In light of the current junta, the safety of Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum was also a focus.
Patel said that the U.S. has vowed to keep a close watch on his well-being and hold those accountable if he faces harm.
Meanwhile, in a disturbing revelation from CNN, over a thousand people were allegedly killed on June 15 in West Darfur, Sudan. The Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias are believed to be behind this massacre.
The U.S. State Department, through Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield on Aug. 9, condemned the attack, making comparisons to the 2004 genocide declaration.
Despite U.S. condemnation, there’s a growing demand for stricter action against the perpetrators.
Separately, the U.S. addressed renewed hostilities in Nyala, South Darfur. Reports suggest indiscriminate shelling between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leading to civilian deaths. The U.S. is calling for adherence to international humanitarian law.
Elsewhere worldwide, tensions rise at the UN Security Council Meeting regarding Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Ambassador Robert Wood took a firm stance against Russia’s narrative.
He highlighted Russian transgressions, including using Iranian-acquired drones against Ukrainian civilians and a recent attack on the Sukru Okan cargo ship in the Black Sea.
The U.S. says it remains committed to Ukraine’s right to self-defense, underscoring the need to curb weapon diversions in combat zones.