By Ebi Kesiena
Authorities in France has suspended its development aid and budget support to Burkina Faso, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry.
France’s development aid to Ouagadougou is said to be estimated at $530 million (€482 million), while budget support for 2022 amounted to $14.30 million (€13 million).
The brief statement issued on Sunday did not give the reasons for the aid cut.
But the announcement came days after Burkina Faso and Mali, both with military rulers, declared their strong backing for the junta that overthrew Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum in a military coup last month.
The coup which also lead to a split of Niger from the position of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), gave the coup leaders a seven-day deadline to reinstate Bazoum or they would consider a forceful means.
According to the two West African countries, which border Niger, any military intervention in Niger would be consider a “declaration of war.”
On Sunday, as the ECOWAS deadline expired, there was uncertainty over whether the West African bloc would go ahead with a military intervention.
But on Saturday, as the deadline drew closer, France’s Foreign Ministry announced its “firm and resolute” support for efforts by ECOWAS to reinstate Bazoum.
Recall that President Bazoum was detained by members of the Presidential Guard on July 26, who later that evening announced the takeover of the government.
