EU-Niger tensions soar after EU envoy recalled over junta’s aid mishandling claims

The European Union has recalled its ambassador in Niger for consultations in Brussels after the junta-led authorities had on Friday (22 November) questioned the EU’s management of humanitarian aid provided to those impacted by severe flooding in the Sahel country.
The EU recalled its ambassador, Salvador Pinto da Franca, from Niamey after Niger’s junta had taken issue with how aid for flood victims was being dispersed, accusing the Portuguese-French diplomat of distributing 1.3 million euros in humanitarian aid to non-governmental organizations in the Sahel country without first informing the junta government. “The European Union expresses its profound disagreement with the allegations and justifications put forward by the transitional authorities,” the European External Action Service (EEAS) said in a statement. In a sign of deteriorating relations with Niamey, Brussels reacted to accusations from the country’s military junta that it divided and distributed the €1.3 million fund directly to several international NGOs in what it deemed was a non-transparent manner.
The development marks a new high in tensions between the 27-member-bloc and Niger’s military junta. Until the military coup in July last year that overthrew democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum, the West African state had long been considered a reliable partner for Europe and the United States in the fight against terrorism. Niger’s military rulers immediately turned against former colonial ruler France, which withdrew its envoy from Niamey shortly after the coup. Like junta-led Sahel countries Mali and Burkina Faso, also Niger’s new leadership — not recognized by Paris and Brussels — has turned to Russia for assistance in what has been sold as throwing off the imperialist chains of cooperation with Western nations. The EU said it will “continue supporting the population” in Niger.