Ottawa has announced that it will stop providing financial aid to the government of Niger following the military coup in the West African country.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has set Sunday as a deadline for the leaders of the military junta to restore the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, under threat of possible foreign intervention.
Global Affairs Canada says in a statement that the coup poses a serious threat to democracy and stability in the region.
The Canadian government is suspending all direct funding to the government of Niger, but assistance to vulnerable populations will continue.
PHOTO ADRIAN WYLD, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said in the statement that Canada supports ECOWAS mediation efforts and that the democratically elected government must be restored to office immediately.
The Ministry of Global Affairs specifies that a bilateral development agreement signed with Niger in 2020 was to reach an annual budget of 10 million per year by 2026.
The program disbursed 2.71 million in the 2021-2022 financial year.
2023-08-06 13:04:56
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