Following a coup that toppled Niger’s democratically elected president, France and the European Union have withdrawn financial support to the West African country. France, as Niger’s former colonial power, has called for an immediate return to the constitutional order, adding to the international pressure on the coup plotters.
The European Union suspended all security cooperation with Niger and announced that it would no longer provide financial assistance. Niger, being one of the world’s poorest nations, relies heavily on international aid, receiving hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Abdourahamane Tiani, a general leading the country’s presidential guard, declared himself the new leader after detaining President Mohamed Bazoum earlier in the week. International leaders, including those from Washington and Moscow, have called for Bazoum’s release, but the pleas have not been heeded so far.
The African Union demanded that the military personnel involved in the coup return to their barracks and restore constitutional authority within 15 days, warning of possible punitive measures against the perpetrators if the rights of political detainees are not respected.
The Sahel region, where Niger is located, has witnessed several power grabs in recent years, including in Mali and Burkina Faso. Niger has been a crucial ally for the United States, France, and other Western governments, representing one of the few democracies in a region grappling with Islamist insurgencies. The international community’s pressure and sanctions may play a significant role in influencing the situation, but it remains uncertain how the coup plotters will respond to such measures.