By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The European Union on Saturday announced the recall of its envoy from Niger after the junta government questioned the way the bloc delivered aid to the West African country.
Nigerien authorities had on Friday accused the EU ambassador of distributing 1.3 million euros ($1.35 million) in humanitarian aid to non-governmental organisations in the country without first informing the junta government.
It also called for an immediate audit of how the foreign aids were managed.
“The European Union expresses its profound disagreement with the allegations and justifications put forward by the transitional authorities,” European External Action Service (EEAS) EU’s diplomatic service said in a statement on Saturday.
“Consequently, the EU has decided to recall its ambassador from Niamey for consultations in Brussels,” it added.
Niger has been under military rule since the junta seized power in a coup in July 2023.
Sahel nation’s military rulers have have since then turned their backs on former colonial ruler France, amidst increasingly frosty relations the European Union.
