The United States announced Wednesday that it is “very concerned” about the health of the detained President of Niger, after Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke to him by phone.
“We are deeply concerned about his health, his personal safety and the safety of his family,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
Niger’s Prime Minister Ouhamoudou Mahamadou recently announced that President Mohamed Bazoum is being held with his wife and son without electricity or water.
Miller declined to provide details of the call, which Blinken made late Tuesday night US time.
The spokesman did not provide any details about the situation of Bazoum, who was detained on July 26 during a military coup.
However, Miller said that concerns about Bazoum’s health were among the reasons that prompted Blinken’s assistant, Victoria Nuland, to seek in vain to meet with Bazoum, during a visit she made on Monday that was not announced.
“As time goes on, and he is being held in isolation, the situation is of increasing concern to us,” Miller added.
2023-08-09 18:31:51
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