Canada resumes bilateral ties with Niger

Canada has restored bilateral ties with Niger which were suspended in April 1999 after a coup in which President Ibrahim Bare Mainassara was shot dead by his own guards, the Canadian ambassador in Cote d'Ivoire told IRIN on Monday. Ambassador Donald McMaster, who assessed conditions for the resumption of aid, said the Niger government was informed of Ottawa's decision on 24 February. He said the resumption of aid would begin in about two months in support of the formal education of young women. Then, about two months later, he said: "We expect informal education of girls will begin after finalising the contract with the executing agency." Canada held back on these projects because they had not yet started at the time of the coup. However, McMaster said, Ottawa maintained aid targeting women and health during the period of transitional rule. McMaster said aid was resumed because the transitional government held transparent elections and because "the pronouncements of the new government were in line with our expectations and those of other donors".