HOW 2 LIIVE

The African Union said Tuesday it had suspended Niger until civilian rule in the country is restored and would assess the implications of any armed intervention in the troubled Sahel nation. The Peace and Security Council “requests the AU Commission to undertake an assessment of the economic, social and security implications of deploying a standby force in Niger and report back to Council,” the bloc said, following strong differences on the matter. Army officers toppled President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, prompting the West African regional bloc ECOWAS to threaten to use force to reinstate him. ECOWAS — the Economic Community of West African States — agreed to activate a “standby force” as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger. He said he was ready to act, even as he continued to harbor hopes of a diplomatic solution. Last week, the AU held a crisis meeting amid divergent views within the bloc on any military intervention. The coup has heightened international concern for the Sa

(coup leaders/Niger flag) Military junta threatens President if military experience any form of attack Niger's junta threatened a top US diplomat that if surrounding countries tried military action to restore deposed President Mohamed Bazoum's power, they would kill him. During her visit to the country this week, representatives of the junta informed US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland of the danger against Bazoum, a Western military official said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. An official in the United States verified that account, saying on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Bazoum, who was deposed on July 26, claims to be held hostage at his home. The regional ECOWAS alliance announced on Thursday. It has put in place military intervention to restore democracy but has not disclosed actual location and time of strategy. West African Union heads of state met Thursday in Nigeria's capit

After two weeks, Niger's military junta is making cabinet nominations and rejecting discussions. As Niger's military junta enters its second week in power, its leaders are appointing a government and rejecting calls for negotiations in what analysts describe as an attempt to entrench their power and demonstrate that they are serious about governing the West African country in the face of an escalating regional crisis. As Niger's military junta enters its second week in power, its leaders are appointing a government and rejecting calls for negotiations in what analysts describe as an attempt to entrench their power and demonstrate that they are serious about governing the West African country in the face of an escalating regional crisis. The junta has appointed a new prime minister and a raft of new cabinet members. They also refused to accept meditation teams from the United Nations, the African Union, and the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, citing "evident reasons