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A6 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 23 august 2023
The African Union suspends Niger until ‘the effective restoration of

constitutional order’

By SAM MEDNICK by the Nigerien embassies
Associated Press in the countries, said the
NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — The official, who lacked autho-
African Union on Tuesday rized to speak to the media
suspended Niger from all of by name in line with regula-
its institutions and activities tions governing his work.
“until the effective resto- The AP saw a copy of the
ration of constitutional or- letter sent by Niger’s Em-
der” following last month’s bassy in Germany, which
coup. said it was suspending “the
The Executive Council of issuance of authorizations
the 55-nation bloc made for the individual and/or
the decision after muti- collective carrying of fire-
nous soldiers overthrew arms on Nigerien territory
Niger’s democratically until further notice.”
elected president almost It was unknown if other
four weeks ago and quickly countries with a military
entrenched themselves presence in Niger, including
in power, rebuffing most France, Belgium and the
dialogue efforts. President United States, received the
Mohamed Bazoum, his wife same directive, though it is
and son have been kept believed they did, accord-
under house arrest in the ing to the Western official.
capital, Niamey. It’s also unclear if the order
The suspension announce- From left; President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mousa Tourey, ECOWAS Special Envoy to Republic applies to past agreements
ment was the council’s of Niger, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Niger ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and Sultan or only new ones.
first public communica- of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar III, pose in Niamey, Niger, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. If it is retroactive, the edict
tion since it met earlier this Associated Press would represent a signifi-
month to discuss Niger’s macy to the illegal regime of a standard playbook in Niger suspended authori- cant escalation in Niger’s
crisis. The body made up of in Niger.” the AU and regional bod- zation for German, Canadi- deteriorating diplomatic
foreign ministers called on A suspension means Nige- ies have taken in response an and Czech nationals to relations with other coun-
the African Union’s other rien representatives, from to coups elsewhere in Af- import or carry weapons in tries and cripple the abil-
member nations and the the head of state down, rica, Nate Allen, an associ- the West African nation, a ity of any present force to
international community to no longer can vote on AU ate professor at the Africa Western official told The As- train or to protect their em-
reject the “unconstitutional proposals or participate in Center for Strategic Stud- sociated Press on Tuesday. bassies, said Wassim Nasr,
change of government the organization’s commit- ies, said. The prohibition came from a journalist and senior re-
and to refrain from any tees or working groups. The Also on Tuesday, the mili- Niger’s Ministry of Defense search fellow at the Soufan
action likely to grant legiti- council’s action was part tary junta that seized power and was communicated Center.q

EU climate czar Frans Timmermans quits job to lead center-left

coalition in Dutch elections

By RAF CASERT quit his job in the EU’s exec- crats and greens going into objectives to become the the center-left vote is ex-
Associated Press utive arm Tuesday and will the Dutch elections in No- first climate neutral conti- pected to be among the
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Euro- lead a broad center-left vember. Social Democrat nent, and towards raising biggest groups emerging
pean Union’s climate chief coalition of social demo- Frans Timmermans, 62, was the levels of climate ambi- from the polls, possibly giv-
the only candidate and tion globally,” said EU Com- ing Timmermans a major
won 91.8% of votes cast mission President Ursula von role in the government
by party members of both der Leyen after accepting talks.
groups Tuesday. his resignation. The last four ruling Dutch
He will be seeking to suc- The Dutch elections are coalitions have been led
ceed outgoing Prime Minis- wide open, with two new by Rutte’s conservative
ter Mark Rutte, who will not parties vying to become People’s Party for Freedom
run in the Nov. 22 election. the biggest force in the na- and Democracy.
Timmermans is a well-trav- tion, as traditional groups Rutte and his last four-
eled politician who was like the Christian Demo- party coalition resigned in
the Dutch foreign minister crats face major chal- July after failing to reach
before starting work at the lenges to maintain their agreement on a package
EU’s Commission. He has standing. In a fragmented of measures to rein in mi-
been leading the EU’s cli- political landscape, over gration.
mate push for the past four a dozen parties will have a Rutte, the Netherlands’
European Commissioner for European Green Deal Frans
Timmermans speaks during a media conference on threats years. “Thanks to his excel- shot to get into parliament, longest-serving premier,
of climate change and environmental degradation on lent contribution and strong and coalition talks are ex- has announced that he will
peace, security, and defense at EU headquarters in Brussels, personal engagement, we pected to be lengthy. leave politics once a new
Wednesday, June 28, 2023. have made great strides The combined green and coalition is formed after the
Associated Press towards meeting the EU’s socialist list seeking to unite election.q