United States Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller revealed at a press conference on Monday that the department had "direct contact" with military leaders in Niger "in the last week to 10 days." US officials, who Miller did not name, called on the group that took power in the African country in a coup last month to "step aside."
Addressing the expiration of the deadline the Economic Community of West African States had set for Nigerien military leaders to stand down, the US State Department spokesman said that the ECOWAS noted that a "military intervention would be a last resort" and that Washington is "focused on finding a diplomatic solution."