Niger Coup: Germany Backs EU’s Sanctions Against Junta

Germany supports EU sanctions on Niger coup leaders

Germany’s foreign ministry has expressed its support for the European Union’s plan to impose sanctions on the military junta that seized power in Niger last month. The EU had already suspended its security and development aid to the West African nation, which amounted to EUR 503 million in 2021-2024.

The foreign ministry said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that its Minister Annalena Baerbock had discussed the Niger crisis with various partners, including the African Union Chair Moussa Mahamat, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and others. The aim of the talks was to restore constitutional order in Niger, the tweet said.

The ministry also said that German development minister Svenja Schulze had met with representatives of ECOWAS, the regional bloc that has condemned the coup and called for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted on July 26 by a group of army officers. ECOWAS has also announced that it will deploy a standby force to Niger if the situation worsens.

“We in the EU now want to introduce sanctions against the putschists,” the foreign ministry said, adding that it was in close contact with ECOWAS and other international actors.