Reports reaching the desk of Africa Today News, New York has it that the European Union (EU) and France have discontinued financial support to Niger even as the United States has threatened to do the same following last week’s military coup, as the African Union called on the coup’s military leaders to return to their barracks.
Africa Today News, New York also reports that on Friday, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, who leads Niger’s presidential guard, proclaimed himself as the leader of a transitional government. This came after his soldiers detained President Mohamed Bazoum on Wednesday.
Borrell’s statement also said Bazoum “remains the only legitimate president of Niger”, and called for his immediate release and for holding the coup leaders to account for the safety of the president and his family.
Borrell said the EU was ready to support future decisions taken by West Africa’s regional bloc, “including the adoption of sanctions”.
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The French foreign ministry said France had suspended all development aid and budget support with immediate effect, demanding a prompt return to constitutional order with Bazoum back in charge. French development aid for Niger was at approximately 120 million euros ($130m) in 2022, and was expected to be slightly higher this year.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “The very significant assistance that we have in place for people in Niger is clearly in jeopardy.”
Earlier, the United States’s top diplomat also offered his “unflagging support” to Niger’s overthrown leader. Blinken told Bazoum in a phone call that Washington would work to re-establish the constitutional order after his toppling in the coup, the Department of State said on Friday.
Blinken also “praised Bazoum’s role in promoting security not only in Niger but the wider West Africa region”.
Blinken’s comments came after he told Bazoum earlier in the week that Washington’s support of the landlocked African nation would depend on its “democratic governance and respect for the rule of law and human rights”.
In an address on state television on Friday, the 62-year-old General Tchiani said he had taken control of the government to prevent “the gradual and inevitable demise” of the country.