Niger’s junta rejects a diplomatic visit by regional and UN officials over ‘atmosphere of menace’

By SAM MEDNICK
Associated Press

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Niger’s military junta has refused the latest diplomatic attempt to get the ousted president freed and reinstalled. A letter seen by The Associated Press says the junta rejected a proposed visit by representatives of the West African regional bloc, the African Union and United Nations on Tuesday. The letter cited “evident reasons of security in this atmosphere of menace” against Niger two weeks after mutinous soldiers overthrew the country’s democratically elected leader. The regional bloc known as ECOWAS had threatened to use military force if the junta didn’t reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday, a deadline that was ignored.