Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland met with some of the members of the military junta in Niger Monday . She is the highest level US official to meet in person with the military putschists . The US kept open the door to continue talking and urged Barmou and his allies to hear our offer to try to work with them to solve this diplomatically and return to constitutional order . She was able to meet with a broad cross section of Nigerien civil society while in Niamey she said . She said she was frank about what is at risk if they do not reverse course and that she explained very clearly the US legal responsibilities if the military takeover is formally declared a coup telling them that it is not our desire to go there but they may push us to that point . The U.S. is required under law to cut foreign and military assistance to the Nigerien government if a formal coup designation is made . There are roughly US troops currently stationed in Niger and there are roughly U.N. troops stationed in the country . Nulands request to see detained President Bazoum was denied Monday was denied she told reporters that he is in a very difficult situation under virtual house arrest along with his son and his wife and his family . She also asked for some gestures of health and welfare. He is in an ‘difficult situation undervirtual house arrest. He was in a ‘very difficult situation’ She said he was in an ‘difficult position’ and asked for his family’. Nulander’s wife and her daughter” to meet. She said. She also sought to emphasize that she was not allowed to see him. She was not granted a meeting with him. The US
Acting US deputy secretary of state meets with military junta members in Niger . Acting US
