By Daniel Edu

Germany has announced the suspension of its bilateral cooperation with the Republic of Niger in response to the recent military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The coup, led by Niger General Abdourahmane Tchiani, saw the democratically elected president being overthrown by military force.

The international community and various country leaders have condemned the coup, and now Germany’s decision adds to the repercussions. The suspension of financial and development aid to Niger will remain in effect until further notice.

According to reports, Germany is closely monitoring the situation and assessing further measures depending on the developments in the country. However, as of now, evacuating German citizens or soldiers from Niger is not deemed necessary.

A spokesperson for Germany’s Foreign Ministry stated, “Berlin suspended all direct support payments to the central government of Niger until further notice.” The Development Ministry confirmed the suspension and emphasized that those behind the coup must restore power to the democratically elected president.

France, the former colonial ruler of Niger, has taken a different stance and declared its recognition of Bazoum as the sole legitimate authority in the country. The French Foreign Ministry clarified that its priority is the security of its citizens and facilities, which cannot be subjected to violence under international law. This response came amidst speculation about whether France had received authorization from the toppled government to conduct strikes to free the president, as claimed by the military junta responsible for the coup.

The situation in Niger remains uncertain, and the international community continues to monitor the developments closely.