US Department of State Bureau of African Affairs, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee currently travels to three countries in Africa: Chad, Nigeria and Ghana.
His official trip from August 25 to 29 was announced on Friday. During the visit, Ms. Phee is expected to “engage regional heads of state to discuss US support for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and regional leadership in response to the crisis in Niger.” .
Ms Phee met Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Saturday, during which she expressed President Joe Biden’s willingness to meet the Nigerian leader on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York next month. .
In Chad, Ms Phee is expected to review ongoing developments with neighboring countries Niger and Sudan and the country’s political transition. After the assassination of former President Idriss Déby in 2021, the military created a Transitional Military Council (TMC) headed by General Mahamat Idriss Déby, one of the late president’s sons.
“In all his talks, he will raise the shared goals of preserving Niger’s hard-won democracy and achieving the immediate release of President Bazoum, his family, and wrongfully detained members of his administration,” the State Department said.
The United States stated that “Under Secretary Phee is also consulting with senior officials in Benin, the Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Togo, emphasizing the United States’ support for the principled stance taken by ECOWAS in defense of democracy and constitutional order.” .
On August 19, the United States sent a new ambassador to Niger, Kathleen FitzGibbon, who arrived in Niamey to lead and “strengthen efforts to help resolve the political crisis,” the State Department said. The United States relies on what it has described as its “significant experience specializing in West Africa; is uniquely positioned to lead the US government’s efforts in support of the American community and the preservation of Niger’s hard-won democracy.”
The United States has said: “Due to the current political crisis in Niger, Ambassador FitzGibbon will not formally present his credentials. His arrival does not reflect any change in our political position, but he does respond to the need for superior leadership of our mission at a difficult time. His diplomatic approach will be to advocate for a diplomatic solution that preserves the constitutional order in Niger and for the immediate release of President Bazoum, his family and all those illegally detained. We remain committed to working with African partners, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to promote security, stability, democratic governance and the rule of law in the Sahel.”
When Acting US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland traveled to Niger last month, she was not given permission to meet with Bazoum. It is not yet known if Phee will meet with him personally.
Since the arrival of Ambassador FitzGibbon in Niger, some events have taken place. On August 19, ECOWAS met with the leader of the military government of Niger, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, and met with Mr. Bazoum. This was the first time that Mr. Bazoum had been seen by a foreign official. In addition, the African Union suspended Niger for the July 26 coup.
Pearl Matibe is a Washington, DC-based White House correspondent and media commentator with experience in US foreign policy and international security. You can follow her on Twitter: @PearlMatibe
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