U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. is backing regional efforts to bring a diplomatic resolution to the “extremely troubling” situation in Niger, as the junta ignored regional demands to relinquish power and began announcing a new cabinet. West African heads of state are preparing to meet later this week to discuss the crisis in the country, where soldiers seized control of the state and took President Mohamed Bazoum hostage on July 26.