Britain to suspend long-term development assistance to Niger over coup

Jul 31, 2023 - 15:11

Participants pose for a photo at an emergency meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria, on July 30, 2023. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional group of 15 countries, agreed to impose sanctions on Niger's military leaders involved in a recent coup at an emergency meeting held here on Sunday. (ECOWAS/Handout via Xinhua)

LONDON, July 31 (Xinhua)

Britain on Sunday condemned a recent coup in Niger and announced that it will suspend long-term development assistance to the West African country.

Britain wholly supports the immediate political and economic measures announced on Sunday by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the British government noted in a statement.

"We will however continue to provide critical humanitarian assistance to the people of Niger," it added.

Niger's Defense and Security Forces said Wednesday that soldiers in the country had overthrown its elected president.