“But we have made very clear, Secretary Blinken has made very clear, that the future – that the hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance that the U.S. has provided and is continuing to provide to Niger is very much in the balance, depending on the outcome of the actions in the country. It is important that democrat – that U.S. assistance hinges on continued democratic governance in Niger.”
Benin has announced that it will also join the military intervention in Niger, with which it shares a common border, if the operation is authorized by ECOWAS. Benin became the fourth country after Nigeria, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, which confirmed its readiness to take part in the intervention.