– US suspends government aid programs
The head of the American diplomacy Antony Blinken announced Friday the suspension of aid programs to the government of Niger. “Vital” humanitarian aid is maintained.
Posted today at 02:04 Updated 6 hours ago
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a press conference at the United Nations in New York on August 3, 2023.
AFP
Washington “suspends certain international aid programs for the benefit of the government of Niger,” said Antony Blinken, the head of American diplomacy, in a press release. But “the delivery of vital humanitarian and food aid will continue,” added the Secretary of State.
On Wednesday evening, the United States had ordered the evacuation of its non-essential personnel at the embassy in Niamey. In his press release, Antony Blinken, who has met on several occasions with ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, adds that his country “continues the activities of the American State in Niger when they are possible, including diplomatic and security operations, to the safety of U.S. officials.”
Several hundred million dollars
Aid to the government “depends on democratic governance and respect for the constitutional order,” wrote Anthony Blinken, saying that Washington would “continue its review of [son] international aid and [de sa] cooperation depending on the development of the situation on the ground.”
The United States strongly condemned the overthrow of President Bazoum but, unlike France and other European countries, had not ordered evacuations until Wednesday or suspended aid to Niger, which amounts to several hundred million dollars. In a column in the “Washington Post” published Thursday evening, President Bazoum indicated that “international aid represents 40%” of the national budget.
The United States has some 1,000 soldiers deployed in the country as part of the fight against jihadist groups in the Sahel. On Friday, the soldiers of the West African bloc (ECOWAS) announced that they were ready to intervene against the putschists who took power on July 26 in Niamey, when they announced the breakdown of military cooperation with France.
AFP
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2023-08-05 00:04:08
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