The United States of America, on Friday, met with ECOWAS officials regarding the ongoing political crisis in Niger Republic, stating support for the bloc to continually pressure Niger military junta to release ousted President Mohammed Bazoum, his family members and restore democratic rule.

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the office of U.S. Secretary of State, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. 

Anthony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, “thanked ECOWAS for leading efforts to bring about a solution that preserves constitutional order in Niger,” the statement reads, adding that “Partners were united in their position that the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland in Niger must release President Mohamed Bazoum, his family, and all those unlawfully detained.” 

According to the statement, Mr Blinken outlined the steps the United States had taken to support ECOWAS pressure on the CNSP to restore democracy, including restricting more than $600 million in security and development assistance, and suspending Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compacts. 

This followed Mr Bazoum’s appeal to the ECOWAS Court to free him from detention on Wednesday.

On June 26, Mr Bazoum’s government was truncated by members of his presidential guard. The junta have kept Mr Bazoum and his family in detention despite condemnation of his ouster from office by the international communities.

At the Second Extraordinary Summit on the socio-political situation in the Republic of Niger held in Abuja on August 10, President of ECOWAS, Omar Alieu Touray, ordered the bloc’ force to invade Niger and restore constitutional order.

“We direct the committee of defence staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately,” Mr Touray said, adding that the action was to “restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.”

But ECOWAS is yet to enforce the order as youths in the country vow to resist invasion, support the coupists.