US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warned that the United States' economic arrangements with Niger is at risk due to the coup and demanded immediate restoration of democratic order in the country.
The European Union also announced suspension of its economic support to Niger and suspended indefinitely all cooperation with the country.
Blinken, who is in Australia as part of a Pacific tour, said the continued security and economic arrangements that Niger has with the US hinged on the release of Bazoum and the immediate restoration of the democratic order in Niger. Blinken told presspersons in Brisbane, Australia that he spoke with Bazoum by telephone but did not provide further details.
Members of the Niger military announced on Wednesday they had deposed democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum and on Friday named General Abdourahmane Tchiani as the country's new leader, adding Niger to a growing list of military regimes in West Africa's Sahel region.
Blinken said that United States' economic and security partnership with Niger depends on the continuation of democratic governance and constitutional order. “Our economic and security partnership with Niger which is significant, hundreds of millions of dollars, depends on the continuation of the democratic governance and constitutional order that has been disrupted by the actions in the last few days,” Blinken said.
“So that assistance, that support, is in clear jeopardy as a result of these actions, which is another reason why they need to be immediately reversed,” Blinken said.
Blinken stopped short of calling the military actions in Niger a coup, a designation that could result in the African country losing millions of dollars of military aid and assistance.
“The very significant assistance that we have in place that's making a material difference in the lives of the people of Niger is clearly in jeopardy and we've communicated that as clearly as we possibly can to those responsible for disrupting the constitutional order and Niger's democracy," Blinken said.
Blinken said the US Embassy in Niger had accounted for the safety of all staff members and their families, while issuing a security alert advising US citizens in the country to limit unnecessary movements and avoid areas impacted by the coup.
The military group that conducted the coup, calling itself the 'National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country', said its members remained committed to engaging with the international and national community.
Bazoum was elected two years ago in Niger's first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence from France. Niger is seen as the last reliable partner for the West in efforts to battle jihadis linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group in Africa's Sahel region, where Russia and Western countries have vied for influence in the fight against extremism.
France has 1,500 soldiers in the country who conduct joint operations with Niger's military, while the US and other European countries have helped train the nation's troops.
The European Union suspended financial support and all other cooperation with Niger with immediate effect. EU demanded the immediate release of Bazoum. The Guardian quoted Josep Borrell, EU’s foreign policy head as saying, “In addition to the immediate cessation of budget support, all cooperation actions in the domain of security are suspended indefinitely with immediate effect,” Borrell said.
Borrell added European Union will not recognise authorities from the coup and said, “Mohamed Bazoum remains the only legitimate president of Niger.”
(With PTI inputs.)