The United States has announced the suspension of some aid to Niger following the coup that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum. In a statement on Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Washington would be pausing "certain foreign assistance programmes benefitting the government of Niger". He emphasized that US assistance to Niger is contingent on democratic governance and respect for constitutional order. Blinken did not specify which programmes would be affected but assured that life-saving humanitarian and food assistance, as well as diplomatic and security operations to protect US personnel, would continue. He called for the immediate restoration of Niger's democratically-elected government.

Niger, which gained independence from France in 1960, has been seen as a reliable Western partner in combating violent extremism in Africa's Sahel region. It is the largest recipient of US military assistance in the region and hosts more than 2,000 Western troops, mostly from the US and France. The military coup led by General Abdourahamane Tchian deposed President Bazoum, who was one of the few pro-Western leaders in the region. Tchian justified the coup as necessary to prevent the country's "gradual and inevitable demise".

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional bloc representing 15 countries, is weighing the possibility of returning Bazoum's government to power. An ECOWAS delegation is in the Nigerien capital, Niamey, to negotiate the restoration of constitutional order before an approaching deadline. However, the military junta in Niger is in a standoff with ECOWAS, which has taken a hard stance on the coup. In a blow to hopes of restoring the previous status quo, the junta revoked several military cooperation agreements with France. France has between 1,000 and 1,500 troops in Niger, assisting in the fight against extremist groups linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State. The revocation of military cooperation agreements could reshape the joint effort to combat the insurgency in the Sahel region.

In response to the political turmoil in Niger, the United States has ordered the temporary evacuation of non-emergency government personnel and their eligible family members from its embassy in Niamey. The decision follows similar actions taken by European countries, including France and Italy, who have also removed non-essential personnel from Niger due to security concerns. The embassy will remain open but will only provide limited emergency services to US citizens. The United States has advised its citizens against unnecessary travel to Niger, particularly in the capital.

General Abdourahmane Tchiani, Niger's self-declared leader, delivered a nationally televised speech criticizing neighboring countries and the international community for their response to the coup. He called on the population to be ready to defend the nation and warned against foreign meddling and military intervention. Tchiani promised to create conditions for a peaceful transition to elections but expressed opposition to the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, deeming them illegal, unfair, inhuman, and unprecedented.

The coup in Niger has been strongly condemned by Western countries, who see Niger as a crucial partner in the fight against jihadist groups in the Sahel region. The potential withdrawal of US personnel not only risks undermining counterterrorism efforts but also opens the possibility of increased Russian influence in the region. The United States currently has approximately 1,000 military personnel in Niger and operates from two bases in the country.

Amid the ongoing crisis, defense chiefs from ECOWAS have been meeting in Nigeria's capital to discuss possible interventions and negotiations with the junta in Niger. The bloc has imposed severe travel and economic sanctions, including halting energy transactions with Niger. This has led to the cutting off of power transmission from Nigeria to Niger, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the already impoverished nation.

The situation in Niger remains uncertain, and the international community is closely monitoring developments and assessing their potential impact on regional stability. US officials have expressed their continued support for President Bazoum and are actively engaged in efforts to address the crisis.