Niger Junta Has Threatened To Kill Deposed President If There Is Military Intervention –U.S. Officials

Niger’s junta has told a top United States diplomat that they would kill deposed President Mohamed Bazoum if neighbouring countries attempted any military intervention to restore his rule, two Western officials told The Associated Press.

Daily Mail reports that a Western military official said, while speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said the representatives of the junta told the U.S. Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland of the threat to Bazoum during her visit to the country this week.

A U.S. official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, confirmed the account.

Bazoum, who was deposed on July 26, says he is being held hostage at his residence.

The ousted leader earlier disclosed that he was eating dry rice and pasta.

The regional ECOWAS bloc said Thursday it had directed the deployment of a “standby force” to restore democracy in Niger after the coup. However, it gave no details about the make-up, location and proposed date of deployment for any military intervention force.

Those absent are the heads of state in the troubled Niger Republic, Mali, Chad and Burkina Faso.