Germany has suspended financial aid to Niger Republic as well as development cooperation following the recent military coup in the country that saw President Mohamed Bazoum ousted.
The country disclosed this on Monday, July 31, 2023, warning it could take further measures against the coup plotters.
The German government has “suspended all direct support payments to the central government of Niger until further notice.
“Depending on developments in the coming days, we may take further measures,” a German foreign ministry spokesman said.
A source also revealed that the government has also decided to suspend bilateral development cooperation.
The European Union, EU, and Niger’s former colonial ruler, France had already suspended financial aid as well as security cooperation to the country.
The German military has about 100 troops stationed in Niger Republic and has an important air transport and logistics base in the capital, Niamey, which is playing a role in Germany’s withdrawal of personnel from neighbouring Mali.
Germany is withdrawing its troops from Mali following the UN’s decision to end a peacekeeping mission but said there were currently no plans to evacuate Germans from Niger Republic.
Niger’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, has been held by the coup plotters since Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in the third coup in as many years to fall a leader in the Sahel region of the continent.
The Street Journal had reported that General Abdourahamane Tchiani, who has been the head of the country’s presidential guard since 2011, declared himself the military leader of the country on Friday, July 28, 2023, but leaders across the continent have given the military junta one week to release and reinstate President Mohammed Bazoum as the legitimate Head of State and government of the country.
