Niger Coup Leader Snubs US Diplomat, Meets Mali-Burkina Delegation; Nigeria President Faces Backlash

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu is facing a huge domestic backlash over his threat to use military force in coup-hit Niger. Tinubu is threatening to use military force to reverse the coup in the next-door neighbour country. Nigeria’s local media reported that Tinubu’s govt faced strong opposition to military intervention at a session of the Senate. Lawmakers who represented states that shared borders with Niger are especially opposed to the potential move. Multiple Nigerian media reports say there has also been countrywide condemnation of the possibility of war. West African regional bloc Ecowas had set a deadline of Aug. 6 for the junta to give up power - or face possible military action. The decision was very much seen as Tinubu's as he is Ecowas' current chairman, and Nigeria is its most influential member. Many have also criticised Nigeria’s decision to cut electricity to Niger, causing blackouts in Niger's capital, Niamey, and other cities. Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland met with some of the members of the military junta in Niger. Nuland met with Gen. Moussa Barmou, the self-proclaimed chief of defence, and three colonels supporting him for more than two hours. The senior US diplomat described the meeting “extremely frank and at times quite difficult”. Watch this video to know more.