Latest news with #PatrickYoussef
Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Red Cross suspends aid work in Niger after military regime orders office closures
The decision to halt Red Cross operations in the military-led African nation came after Nigerien authorities accused the organization of engaging with armed groups in the country. Niger's junta leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, stated during a May interview on state television that the ICRC had been expelled early this year. According to him, the decision followed claims that the organization had held meetings and collaborated with I slamist insurgent leaders. These accusations have not been substantiated publicly with evidence. In response, the ICRC has firmly denied any wrongdoing. In a statement issued on Thursday, the organization explained that as part of its neutral humanitarian mission, it communicates with all parties involved in conflicts whether in writing or through dialogue. However, it emphasized that this engagement 'never provides those parties with financial, logistical or other support. ' The ICRC, which has been present in Niger for 35 years, described the shutdown as regrettable. The organization disclosed that foreign personnel were withdrawn from the country earlier this year, in compliance with the government's initial order. It also stated that efforts to open dialogue with Niger authorities had not yielded results. ' Our priority in Niger has been to help the most vulnerable people affected by ongoing armed conflicts and to do so with transparency, independence, neutrality and impartiality, ' said Patrick Youssef, ICRC's Regional Director for Africa. Impact on humanitarian aid According to United Nations figures, around 4.5 million people, or 17% of Niger's population, needed humanitarian assistance in 2024. The country continues to face a severe crisis fueled by insecurity, disease outbreaks, and environmental disasters. The Red Cross's exit is likely to further strain humanitarian support in a country already battling multiple emergencies. Since the 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger's military government has taken a hard stance against Western organizations and allies. It has joined regional neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso in expelling French and Western forces while seeking closer security cooperation with Russia.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Red Cross halts operations in Niger after government directive
NIAMEY (Reuters) -The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has suspended its operations in Niger after the West African nation's government ordered the closure of its offices, citing alleged collusion with armed groups. Niger junta leader Abdourahamane Tchiani said in an interview with state television in late May that the organisation had been expelled in February, accusing it of meeting and collaborating with Islamist insurgent leaders. The ICRC denied the allegations. "To fulfil its humanitarian mandate to protect and assist victims of armed conflict, the ICRC engages in a spoken or written dialogue with all parties to a conflict," it said in a statement on Thursday. The organisation said it "never provides those parties with financial, logistical or other support." The ICRC, which has worked in Niger for 35 years, said it regretted the government's decision. It said it had immediately removed all foreign personnel from Niger earlier this year after authorities ordered it to do so, while remaining available for dialogue to understand what drove the decision and provide clarification. It added that attempts to discuss the situation were unsuccessful. "Our priority in Niger has been to help the most vulnerable people affected by ongoing armed conflicts and to do so with transparency, independence, neutrality and impartiality," ICRC Regional Director Patrick Youssef said in the statement. Around 4.5 million people, or 17% of Niger's population, required aid in 2024 due to a humanitarian crisis driven by insecurity, epidemics, and natural disasters, according to the United Nations. Niger's junta staged a coup in 2023 that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Following the coup, Niger's authorities, like military rulers in Mali and Burkina Faso, expelled French and other Western forces and sought support from Russia as they battle militant groups.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Red Cross halts operations in Niger after government directive
NIAMEY - The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has suspended its operations in Niger after the West African nation's government ordered the closure of its offices, citing alleged collusion with armed groups. Niger junta leader Abdourahamane Tchiani said in an interview with state television in late May that the organisation had been expelled in February, accusing it of meeting and collaborating with Islamist insurgent leaders. The ICRC denied the allegations. "To fulfil its humanitarian mandate to protect and assist victims of armed conflict, the ICRC engages in a spoken or written dialogue with all parties to a conflict," it said in a statement on Thursday. The organisation said it "never provides those parties with financial, logistical or other support." The ICRC, which has worked in Niger for 35 years, said it regretted the government's decision. It said it had immediately removed all foreign personnel from Niger earlier this year after authorities ordered it to do so, while remaining available for dialogue to understand what drove the decision and provide clarification. It added that attempts to discuss the situation were unsuccessful. "Our priority in Niger has been to help the most vulnerable people affected by ongoing armed conflicts and to do so with transparency, independence, neutrality and impartiality," ICRC Regional Director Patrick Youssef said in the statement. Around 4.5 million people, or 17% of Niger's population, required aid in 2024 due to a humanitarian crisis driven by insecurity, epidemics, and natural disasters, according to the United Nations. Niger's junta staged a coup in 2023 that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Following the coup, Niger's authorities, like military rulers in Mali and Burkina Faso, expelled French and other Western forces and sought support from Russia as they battle militant groups. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Red Cross closes Niger offices and foreign staff leave after junta's expulsion order
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The International Committee of the Red Cross announced the closure of its offices in Niger and the departure of its foreign staff, four months after the ruling junta ordered the organization to leave the country. The ICRC confirmed the closure and departure in a statement on Thursday. 'We reiterate our willingness to maintain constructive dialogue with the authorities of Niger with a view to resuming our strictly humanitarian protection and assistance activities,' Patrick Youssef, the ICRC's regional director for Africa, said in the statement. In February, Niger's Foreign Affairs Ministry had ordered the ICRC to close its offices and leave the country. No official reason was given for the military junta's decision to shut down the organization's operations in the country at the time. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The ICRC said it had been in dialogue with Niger's authorities since February to understand the reasons for their decision and provide any necessary clarification but that these efforts were unsuccessful. On May 31, Niger's junta leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, justified the ICRC expulsion on Nigerien state television, accusing the organization of having met with 'terrorist leaders' and funding armed groups. The ICRC refuted the accusations in its statement on Thursday, saying that dialogue with all sides in the conflict is necessary to carry out its humanitarian mandate and that it 'never provides financial, logistical, or any other form of support' to armed groups. The humanitarian organization had been active in the West African country since 1990, mainly helping people displaced by violence by Islamic extremists, food insecurity and natural disasters. According to the organization, it provided humanitarian aid to more than 2 million people in Niger. Niger's military rulers took power in a coup two years ago, the latest of several military takeovers in Africa's Sahel, the vast, arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert that has become a hotspot for extremist violence by militant groups. Since the coup, Niger has pulled away from its Western partners, such as France and the United States, turning instead to Russia for security. Last November, the country's military junta banned the French aid group Acted from working in the country amid tensions with France.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Red Cross closes Niger offices and foreign staff leave after junta's expulsion order
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The International Committee of the Red Cross announced the closure of its offices in Niger and the departure of its foreign staff, four months after the ruling junta ordered the organization to leave the country. The ICRC confirmed the closure and departure in a statement on Thursday. 'We reiterate our willingness to maintain constructive dialogue with the authorities of Niger with a view to resuming our strictly humanitarian protection and assistance activities," Patrick Youssef, the ICRC's regional director for Africa, said in the statement. In February, Niger's Foreign Affairs Ministry had ordered the ICRC to close its offices and leave the country. No official reason was given for the military junta's decision to shut down the organization's operations in the country at the time. The ICRC said it had been in dialogue with Niger's authorities since February to understand the reasons for their decision and provide any necessary clarification but that these efforts were unsuccessful. On May 31, Niger's junta leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, justified the ICRC expulsion on Nigerien state television, accusing the organization of having met with 'terrorist leaders' and funding armed groups. The ICRC refuted the accusations in its statement on Thursday, saying that dialogue with all sides in the conflict is necessary to carry out its humanitarian mandate and that it 'never provides financial, logistical, or any other form of support" to armed groups. The humanitarian organization had been active in the West African country since 1990, mainly helping people displaced by violence by Islamic extremists, food insecurity and natural disasters. According to the organization, it provided humanitarian aid to more than 2 million people in Niger. Niger's military rulers took power in a coup two years ago, the latest of several military takeovers in Africa's Sahel, the vast, arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert that has become a hotspot for extremist violence by militant groups. Since the coup, Niger has pulled away from its Western partners, such as France and the United States, turning instead to Russia for security. Last November, the country's military junta banned the French aid group Acted from working in the country amid tensions with France.
