The European Union said on Saturday, November 23, it had recalled its envoy from Niger because the ruling junta had questioned the way the bloc delivered aid to the West African country.

"The EU has therefore decide to recall its ambassador to Niamey for consultations in Brussels," an EU spokesperson said.

Niger had on Friday accused the EU ambassador of distributing €1.3 million in humanitarian aid to non-governmental organizations in the country without first informing the authorities. It has asked for an audit of the way the funds were managed.

Since taking power in a coup in July 2023, the Sahel nation's military rulers have turned their backs on former colonial ruler France and have grown increasingly frosty towards the European Union.