MADRID, 6 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Government of Canada has announced that it will suspend development assistance that directly supports the Government of Niger in response to the coup attempt that the country suffered on July 26.
In a statement issued by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, and the Minister for International Development, Ahmed Hussen, they explained that this coup attempt “is a serious threat to democracy and stability in Niger and the Sahel”. and that “undermining the rule of law threatens the progress of the democratically elected government towards peace, stability and development in Niger”.
“Canada stands with the international community and expresses its support for ECOWAS mediation efforts for the return of constitutional order in Niger. The democratically elected government must be reinstated immediately,” Joly said.
They have qualified that this suspension will cover direct budgetary support from Canada, but that “Canadian assistance in the areas of health, education, economy and gender equality will continue for the poorest and most vulnerable populations.”
In the years 2021 and 2022, Canada’s total international assistance to Niger reached 59.33 million dollars (about 40 million euros) of which 8.7 million dollars (about 6 million euros) was for humanitarian assistance .
Niger also benefits from Canada’s contributions to multilateral partners and global initiatives, as well as projects with Canadian and international non-governmental organizations.
With last week’s coup, a group of soldiers ousted the Nigerian president, Mohamed Bazoum. Niger has experienced four other — now five — coups since it gained independence from France in 1960, as well as several failed attempts, the last of which was in 2021, days before Bazoum took office.
