BERLIN: Germany on Monday suspended its bilateral cooperation with Niger until further notice and has warned that it might take further measures in response to a military coup last week that saw democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum detained by presidential guards.
German Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a media briefing that Berlin has suspended all direct support payments to the Niger’s central government until further notice.
The spokesperson added that Germany was also examining the entire bilateral engagement with Niger and will take further steps depending on the developments in the coming few days.
He said that the situation in Niger was still volatile and that the coup could still fail.
The Development Ministry confirmed the suspension of cooperation. A spokeswoman for the ministry said that those behind the coup in Niger must repose power to the democratically elected president. Germany was in close contact with its partners and was monitoring and evaluating the developments in the country. The European Union (EU) has already slashed its aid to Niger.
Germany’s eveacuation policy
However, the government said it had no plans to recall German citizens or soldiers from Niger.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that the governmnet did not think the evacuation necessary at this moment.
There are currently about one hundred soldiers of the Germany military in Niger to assist in training local forces.
Boris Pistorius, Defense Minister, later said that Germany was assessing possible actions to take both with regard to its forces in Niger and its military withdrawal from neighboring country Mali.
He said that the coup leaders had pldged to adhere to international deals but that it remained to be seen whether this would be the case.
