After the coup on Wednesday, the new military leader of Niger met with members of the government for the first time on Friday.
The gathering was held inside the presidential palace in the nation’s capital, Niamey, following General Abdourahamane Tchiani’s proclamation as the nation’s new president, succeeding outgoing President Mohamed Bazoum. Tchiani has been in charge of the Presidential Guard since 2011.
The UN reiterated on Thursday that it was still giving the nation humanitarian aid even though relief flights had been put on hold because of the security situation.
The country’s UN representative pleaded for President Bazoum’s release.
Humanitarian assistance to Niger has increased from 1,9 million people in 2017 to 4,3 million in 2023, according to the UN’s OCHA.
“In 2023, before this political crisis, Niger had 4.3 million people in humanitarian need, with 3.3 million in acute food insecurity, the majority of whom are women and children. So we want here also to reinforce the humanitarian appeal to all our partners to further support the humanitarian response in Niger, which to date is only 32 percent funded”, said Nicole Kouassi, United Nations Development Programme representative in Niger.
