On October 10, Washington announced it was cutting more than $500 million in aid to Niger, after determining that the country's military government's overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum was a coup.
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| US stops aid to Niger. (Source: Alarmy Stock) |
At a press conference, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated: “Any resumption of US assistance will require action to usher in democratic governance in a rapid and credible timeframe.”
Together with West African countries, the US has put military pressure on the Niger military government to restore President Bazoum to office.
According to a senior US official, Washington decided to cut more than $500 million in aid to Niamey because in the past two months, the country has “used every possible means to maintain constitutional order in Niger”.
In addition, another US official revealed that Washington currently has about 1,000 troops in Niger, but is no longer actively training or supporting the West African country's forces. In the coming time, US soldiers will continue to work to monitor threats from jihadists.
Earlier on October 10, the US officially declared the overthrow of Niger's democratically elected president a coup, more than two months after the military government took power in Niamey.
The United States has sought every measure to maintain constitutional order in Niger, including urging military leaders to restore civilian rule within four months to comply with the constitution, government officials said.
As a result, Washington will suspend counterterrorism assistance and military training, and halt several foreign assistance programs worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
US Ambassador to Niger Kathleen FitzGibbon remains in the West African nation and has been in contact with the military government, known as the National Council for the Defense of the Fatherland (CNSP), to address logistical needs and protect US personnel.
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