The French Foreign Ministry on Sunday says it has suspended its development aid and budget support to Burkina Faso, with no reasons for the aid cut.
The announcement came days after Burkina Faso and Mali, both with military heads of state backed the junta that deposed Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum in a military coup last month.
Their position is at variance with that of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), which gave the coup leaders a seven-day deadline to reinstate Bazoum or risk military action.
France’s development aid to Ouagadougou is said to be estimated at $530 million while budget support for 2022 amounted to $14.30 million.
The two West African countries, which border Niger, declared that they would consider any military intervention in Niger a “declaration of war.”
Ahead of the ultimatum given by ECOWAS, France’s Foreign Ministry announced its “firm and resolute” support for efforts by ECOWAS to reinstate Bazoum.
ECOWAS deadline expired yesterday Sunday, however, there is still uncertainty over whether the West African bloc would go ahead with a military campaign.
President Bazoum was detained by members of the Presidential Guard on July 26, who later that evening announced the overthrow of the government.
ECOWAS has sent several emissaries to Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, the commander of Niger’s Presidential Guard who declared himself the head of a transitional government.