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On Monday, the European Union took a legal step toward sanctioning the military dictatorship that seized power in a July coup.
The 27-nation group has criticized Niger’s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum’s overthrow, which deposed a vital Western partner in the jihadist-infested region.
The EU said that it had approved a legal framework that allows it to “sanction individuals and entities responsible for actions that threaten Niger’s peace, stability, and security.”
The move, according to the EU’s foreign policy leader, “sends a clear message: military coups have consequences.”
Following the military coup, the EU has already suspended security cooperation and financial assistance to Niger.
Previously colonial power Following a request from Niger’s new rulers, France is withdrawing its 1,500-strong military contingent from the country.
