Blinken says US economic support for Niger at risk, EU cuts off aid as military takeover threatens stability
- Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the ‘assistance and support’ the US gives to Niger is ‘in clear jeopardy as a result of these actions’
- Earlier, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced an ‘immediate cessation of budget support ...security suspended indefinitely’
Political instability in Niger resulting from a military takeover that deposed the president this week threatens the economic support provided by Washington to the African nation, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Saturday.
“Our economic and security partnership with Niger – which is significant, hundreds of millions of dollars – depends on the continuation of the democratic governance and constitutional order that has been disrupted by the actions in the last few days”, Blinken said. “So that assistance, that support, is in clear jeopardy as a result of these actions, which is another reason why they need to be immediately reversed”.
Blinken stopped short of calling the military actions in Niger a coup, a designation that could result in the African country losing millions of dollars of military aid and assistance.
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, receiving close to US$2 billion a year in official development assistance, according to the World Bank.
Niger’s foreign allies so far have refused to recognise the new military government led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, previously head of the presidential guard, who officers declared head of state on Friday.
