The European Union and France have shut off financial aid to Niger, and the US has threatened to do the same after military officials claimed this week that they had deposed the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.
According to the World Bank, Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, receiving about $2 billion in official development aid every year.
It is also a major security partner for Western nations such as France, the former colonial power, and the United States, which both use it as a base to combat an Islamist insurgency in West and Central Africa’s Sahel area. The country was once seen as the most stable country amid numerous turbulent neighbours, is now the world’s seventh-largest uranium producer.
So far, Niger’s international allies have refused to recognize the new military administration established by General Abdourahamane Tiani, a former head of the presidential guard who was named head of state by officers on Friday.
Bazoum has not been heard from since he was imprisoned within the presidential palace early Thursday, despite the fact that the European Union, France, and others continue to recognize him as the legal president.
“In addition to the immediate cessation of budget support, all cooperation actions in the domain of security are suspended indefinitely and with immediate effect,” said EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell in a statement.
France has halted all development funding and fiscal support for Niger, according to the French foreign ministry. It urged an immediate return to constitutional order, with elected President Bazoum in command.
Niger is an important European Union partner in reducing the influx of irregular migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa. The EU also has a small contingent of troops in Niger for military training.
According to its website, the EU invested 503 million euros ($554 million) from its budget to strengthen governance, education, and sustainable growth in Niger between 2021 and 2024.
The US operates two military facilities in Niger with over 1,100 personnel, and it also gives the country hundreds of millions of dollars in security and development aid.
“The very significant assistance that we have in place for people in Niger is clearly in jeopardy,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. He stated that US assistance is contingent on the continuation of democratic rule.
The United Nations stated that the coup had no effect on humanitarian relief supplies.
It is unknown how popular the military junta is among Niger’s people. On Wednesday, some people came out to support Bazoum, but coup sympathisers also flocked to the streets the next day.
On Sunday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will convene in Nigeria for an emergency meeting to examine the situation.
The African Union released a statement on Friday following an emergency meeting, requesting that the troops return to their barracks and constitutional order be restored within 15 days. It didn’t explain what would happen next.
