President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that they are trying to rescue 23 South Africans who are stranded in Niger after the military seized power.
President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by the military in July and the Economic Community of West African States has threatened to intervene and restore constitutional order.
But Mali and Burkina Faso who are ruled by the military warned that if Ecowas intervened it will be a declaration of war.
A delegation from Ecowas was in the capital Niamey on Saturday in a last ditch effort to find a solution to the crisis.
Bazoum and his family have been detained by the military.
The coup has been condemned by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the African Union and several Western powers.
At the time Nuland was on a African tour where she met with senior officials in South Africa, Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ramaphosa said on Saturday they are trying to rescue 23 South Africans who are stuck in Niger.
“There are 23 South Africans there. We are concerned about that coup and we condemn it. We firmly believe that democratically elected governments must not be removed through unconstitutional means. Ecowas is firmly seized with this matter and through the AU we will support the efforts and interventions that they seek to make. But as South Africa we are talking to the leaders of Ecowas and just the other day I was talking to the president of Nigeria as well as other presidents. We are keeping a close eye on it,” said Ramaphosa.
A few months ago South Africa sent its special forces to rescue dozens of its citizens who were stranded in Sudan after the conflict broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict in Sudan has led to over 4 000 deaths and tens of thousands have fled to neighbouring states including Chad.
siyabonga.mkhwanazi@inl.co.za
Politics