BREAKING: US Pauses Some Foreign Aid To Niger (DETAILS)

The United States has announced the suspension of certain aid to Niger in response to the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Friday that Washington is pausing “certain foreign assistance programs benefiting the government of Niger.” He emphasized that the provision of US assistance to Niger depends on democratic governance and respect for constitutional order. The US will continue to review its foreign assistance as the situation evolves on the ground.

Read Also 7 Moves Tinubu-Led ECOWAS Has Decided To Make Against Niger

While Blinken did not specify which programs would be affected, he assured that life-saving humanitarian and food assistance, as well as diplomatic and security operations to protect US personnel, will continue.

The US remains committed to supporting the people of Niger in preserving their hard-earned democracy and calls for the immediate restoration of Niger’s democratically-elected government, according to Blinken.

Niger’s position as a reliable partner in combating violent extremism in Africa’s volatile Sahel region has been recognized, and it is the largest recipient of US military assistance in the area. The country hosts more than 2,000 Western troops, mainly from the US and France.

President Bazoum, who was elected in 2021 in the country’s first peaceful transfer of power since independence, was deposed by military forces led by General Abdourahamane Tchian, who justified the coup as necessary to prevent the country’s “gradual and inevitable demise.”

Amidst the coup, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is considering possible military intervention to restore Bazoum’s government to power. In an op-ed published in the Washington Post, Bazoum called on the international community to help restore constitutional order, warning of “devastating” consequences if the coup against him succeeds.