Last Updated- Dec 25, 2009 8:54 - - 0 Comments


US terminates trade benefits for Niger, Guinea as reports of pressure emerges

President Barack Obama terminated trade benefits for Niger, Guinea and Madagascar Wednesday, as reports emerged on the same day the administration is stopping aid for Niger to pressure its president to step down.

Obama’s decision was announced at a White House press release. The president said the three countries “are not making continual progress in meeting the requirements described” in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a U.S. program designed to help the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The decision takes effect on Jan. 1, 2010.

He also added Mauritania to the list of beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries under the AGOA program.

On the same day, reports indicated that Washington will suspend millions of U.S. dollars in aid to Niger and ban its leadership from visiting the United States, in a bid to pressure President Mamadou Tandja to step down.

The West African country has been in turmoil since a referendum was approved in August to extend Tandja’s rule.

Tandja, 71, has been in power since 1999, and his second five- year term was due to expire Tuesday.

Source: GNA

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