🇺🇸🇳🇪🇷🇺🇮🇷 US warned Niger about ties to Russia, Iran before junta revoked accord, Pentagon says
U.S. officials traveled to Niger last week to express concerns about the country's potential development of ties to Russia and Iran before the ruling junta on Saturday revoked an accord governing the roughly 1,000 U.S. military personnel there, the Pentagon said on Monday.
The Pentagon added it was "seeking clarification about the way ahead. "
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the U.S. government had "direct and frank" conversations in Niger ahead of the junta's announcement, and was continuing to communicate with Niger's ruling military council.
"The U.S. delegation was there to raise a number of concerns. We were troubled about the path that Niger is on. And so these were direct and frank conversations, to have those in person, to talk about our concerns and to also hear theirs," Singh said.
"U.S. officials expressed concern over Niger's potential relationships with Russia and Iran."
#USA #Niger #Russia #Iran
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U.S. officials traveled to Niger last week to express concerns about the country's potential development of ties to Russia and Iran before the ruling junta on Saturday revoked an accord governing the roughly 1,000 U.S. military personnel there, the Pentagon said on Monday.
The Pentagon added it was "seeking clarification about the way ahead. "
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the U.S. government had "direct and frank" conversations in Niger ahead of the junta's announcement, and was continuing to communicate with Niger's ruling military council.
"The U.S. delegation was there to raise a number of concerns. We were troubled about the path that Niger is on. And so these were direct and frank conversations, to have those in person, to talk about our concerns and to also hear theirs," Singh said.
"U.S. officials expressed concern over Niger's potential relationships with Russia and Iran."
#USA #Niger #Russia #Iran
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🇪🇬🇺🇸🇮🇱🇵🇸 Egypt's foreign minister said that the US should make clear to Israel consequences of Rafah operation
Egypt's foreign minister said on Monday the U.S. should make clear to Israel what the consequences of a military push into the south Gaza city of Rafah on the border with Egypt would be, after Washington voiced opposition to such a move.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed to a cabinet meeting on Sunday that Israeli forces would thrust into Rafah.
"It is not enough for rhetoric, it is not enough to state opposition, it is also important to indicate what if that position is circumvented, what if that position is not respected," Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said.
"It is also up to the international community and the United States, who have indicated their refusal to such an eventuality, to make clear what are the consequences if their appeals are not heeded," Shoukry added.
#Egypt #USA #Israel #Palestine
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Egypt's foreign minister said on Monday the U.S. should make clear to Israel what the consequences of a military push into the south Gaza city of Rafah on the border with Egypt would be, after Washington voiced opposition to such a move.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed to a cabinet meeting on Sunday that Israeli forces would thrust into Rafah.
"It is not enough for rhetoric, it is not enough to state opposition, it is also important to indicate what if that position is circumvented, what if that position is not respected," Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said.
"It is also up to the international community and the United States, who have indicated their refusal to such an eventuality, to make clear what are the consequences if their appeals are not heeded," Shoukry added.
#Egypt #USA #Israel #Palestine
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🇺🇸🇳🇪 US gets 'mixed signals' from Niger on future of US troops, US general says
The United States has received "mixed signals" from Niger following the ruling junta's weekend announcement that it had revoked an accord allowing U.S. troops to operate in the West African country, the top U.S. general said.
Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not elaborate on those mixed signals.
"As you saw over the course of the weekend, there was some announcements from Niger about our relationship. But even since then, there have been some mixed signals that we received," Brown told.
"So we will continue to make plans and prepare - if we stay or depart."
At the State Department, deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Washington was still communicating with Niger's ruling military council.
#USA #Niger
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The United States has received "mixed signals" from Niger following the ruling junta's weekend announcement that it had revoked an accord allowing U.S. troops to operate in the West African country, the top U.S. general said.
Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not elaborate on those mixed signals.
"As you saw over the course of the weekend, there was some announcements from Niger about our relationship. But even since then, there have been some mixed signals that we received," Brown told.
"So we will continue to make plans and prepare - if we stay or depart."
At the State Department, deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Washington was still communicating with Niger's ruling military council.
#USA #Niger
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🇺🇸🇲🇦 US approves possible Javelin missile sale to Morocco, Pentagon says
The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of Javelin missiles and related equipment to Morocco for an estimated cost of $260 million, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
The prime contractors of the anti-tank missiles are Lockheed Martin and RTX Corp, the Pentagon said in a statement.
#USA #Morocco
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The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of Javelin missiles and related equipment to Morocco for an estimated cost of $260 million, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
The prime contractors of the anti-tank missiles are Lockheed Martin and RTX Corp, the Pentagon said in a statement.
#USA #Morocco
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🇺🇸🇸🇸 US, allies urge South Sudan to ensure genuine elections
The United States, Britain and Norway on Tuesday called on South Sudan's leaders to take urgent steps to ensure genuine and peaceful elections in December.
South Sudan has been formally at peace since a 2018 deal ended a five-year conflict responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths, but violence between rival communities flares frequently.
The joint statement follows warnings from the United States that South Sudan is not on a path of free and fair elections to take place in December as planned unless action is taken.
"Following recent senior-level visits from our capitals to Juba, the Governments of Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States reaffirm our call for South Sudan’s leaders urgently to take steps necessary to ensure genuine and peaceful elections in December," the statement said, adding the process should address 10 questions posed by the United Nations, African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
#USA #SouthSudan
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The United States, Britain and Norway on Tuesday called on South Sudan's leaders to take urgent steps to ensure genuine and peaceful elections in December.
South Sudan has been formally at peace since a 2018 deal ended a five-year conflict responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths, but violence between rival communities flares frequently.
The joint statement follows warnings from the United States that South Sudan is not on a path of free and fair elections to take place in December as planned unless action is taken.
"Following recent senior-level visits from our capitals to Juba, the Governments of Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States reaffirm our call for South Sudan’s leaders urgently to take steps necessary to ensure genuine and peaceful elections in December," the statement said, adding the process should address 10 questions posed by the United Nations, African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
#USA #SouthSudan
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🇺🇸🇸🇩 US pushes peace talks to avert 'point of no return' in Sudan
The United States hopes for a relaunch of talks aimed at ending the conflict in Sudan and opening up humanitarian access soon after Ramadan ends in mid-April, Washington's newly appointed envoy said.
"We need to restart formal talks. We hope that will happen as soon as Ramadan is over," Tom Perriello said.
"Everybody understands that this crisis is barrelling towards a point of no return, and that means everybody needs to put whatever differences aside and be united in finding a solution to this conflict."
#USA #Sudan
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The United States hopes for a relaunch of talks aimed at ending the conflict in Sudan and opening up humanitarian access soon after Ramadan ends in mid-April, Washington's newly appointed envoy said.
"We need to restart formal talks. We hope that will happen as soon as Ramadan is over," Tom Perriello said.
"Everybody understands that this crisis is barrelling towards a point of no return, and that means everybody needs to put whatever differences aside and be united in finding a solution to this conflict."
#USA #Sudan
@africaintel
🇺🇸🇸🇩 US pledges $47 mln humanitarian aid for Sudan, neighboring countries
The United States on Wednesday pledged about $47 million in new humanitarian assistance for the emergency response in Sudan and neighboring countries, including Chad and South Sudan, the U.S. State Department said in a statement.
The announcement brings total U.S. humanitarian assistance for people in Sudan and neighboring countries to more than $968 million since fiscal year 2023, the State Department said.
#USA #Sudan
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The United States on Wednesday pledged about $47 million in new humanitarian assistance for the emergency response in Sudan and neighboring countries, including Chad and South Sudan, the U.S. State Department said in a statement.
The announcement brings total U.S. humanitarian assistance for people in Sudan and neighboring countries to more than $968 million since fiscal year 2023, the State Department said.
#USA #Sudan
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🇺🇸🇳🇪 US says it has not received a formal request by Niger junta to leave military bases
A top Pentagon official told Congress on Thursday that the U.S. has not received a formal request from Niger's junta to depart the country, saying it has received mixed signals on whether the hundreds of U.S. troops there are no longer welcome.
Celeste Wallander, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, told the House Armed Services Committee that so far Niger's ruling military council has not formally asked the U.S. military to leave.
Wallander said the Niger government has said the status of forces agreement, which sets the terms of a U.S. military presence in a country, is now null and void. However, she said the junta has "assured us that American military forces are protected and they will take no action that will endanger them."
#USA #Niger
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A top Pentagon official told Congress on Thursday that the U.S. has not received a formal request from Niger's junta to depart the country, saying it has received mixed signals on whether the hundreds of U.S. troops there are no longer welcome.
Celeste Wallander, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, told the House Armed Services Committee that so far Niger's ruling military council has not formally asked the U.S. military to leave.
Wallander said the Niger government has said the status of forces agreement, which sets the terms of a U.S. military presence in a country, is now null and void. However, she said the junta has "assured us that American military forces are protected and they will take no action that will endanger them."
#USA #Niger
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🇺🇸🇪🇬 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Cairo
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi received US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cairo on Thursday, his sixth trip to the Middle East since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.
President Al-Sissi stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire, deploring the humanitarian crisis and famine threatening the lives of civilians in Gaza, particularly in the town of Rafah.
The previous day, Antony Blinken had visited Saudi Arabia to discuss a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of prisoners and hostages, and the strengthening of international humanitarian efforts, according to Matthew Miller, spokesman for the US State Department.
#USA #Egypt
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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi received US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cairo on Thursday, his sixth trip to the Middle East since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.
President Al-Sissi stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire, deploring the humanitarian crisis and famine threatening the lives of civilians in Gaza, particularly in the town of Rafah.
The previous day, Antony Blinken had visited Saudi Arabia to discuss a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of prisoners and hostages, and the strengthening of international humanitarian efforts, according to Matthew Miller, spokesman for the US State Department.
#USA #Egypt
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🇺🇸🇸🇩 US eyeing April 18 for possible resumption of Sudan peace talks
The United States is eyeing April 18 for a possible resumption of peace talks on Sudan in Saudi Arabia, U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello said.
"Washington has clearly communicated that peace talks with the warring parties in Saudi Arabia would need to be inclusive", Perriello told, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, regional East African bloc IGAD and the African Union.
While the negotiations may or may not start around April 18, and it was unclear whether the warring parties would agree, Perriello said it would be a natural time for talks to resume after the holy month of Ramadan, as well as a donor conference in Paris planned for April 15.
#USA #Sudan
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The United States is eyeing April 18 for a possible resumption of peace talks on Sudan in Saudi Arabia, U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello said.
"Washington has clearly communicated that peace talks with the warring parties in Saudi Arabia would need to be inclusive", Perriello told, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, regional East African bloc IGAD and the African Union.
While the negotiations may or may not start around April 18, and it was unclear whether the warring parties would agree, Perriello said it would be a natural time for talks to resume after the holy month of Ramadan, as well as a donor conference in Paris planned for April 15.
#USA #Sudan
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