United States, yesterday, formally declared the ousting of Niger’s democratically-elected president a coup d’état, more than two months after mutinous soldiers seized power.

According to senior administration officials, the U.S. was taking action after exhausting all avenues to preserve constitutional order in the West African nation, including urging the military leaders to restore civilian rule within four months in compliance with the constitution.  
   
The coup designation comes with the suspension of counterterrorism assistance and military training as well as the pausing of certain foreign assistance programmes worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
   
Confirming this, U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said: “The United States has concluded that a military coup d’etat has taken place in Niger. Pursuant to section 7008 of the Department of State’s annual appropriations act, the United States is suspending most U.S. assistance to the government of Niger.  

“On August 5, the United States temporarily paused certain foreign assistance programmes to the government of Niger, totaling nearly $200 million. That assistance is now also suspended pursuant to section 7008 of the Department of State’s annual appropriations act. We also note the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s suspension of all assistance to Niger, including all preparatory work on its $302 million Niger Regional Transportation Compact and all new activity on its 2018 Compact.

[Guardian]