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Press Release

MCC CEO Informs Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou of Reinstatement of Threshold Program Assistance

MCC Board of Directors voted unanimously on Wednesday to reinstate Threshold assistance to Niger.

For Immediate Release

June 25, 2011

Washington, DC— Daniel W. Yohannes, CEO of the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), today called President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger to inform him of MCC’s intention to reinstate Niger’s threshold program assistance with MCC.

Niger’s threshold program assistance was originally suspended in December 2009 after a pattern of actions by Niger’s government that was inconsistent with MCC’s eligibility criteria. MCC’s Board of Directors, Chaired by Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton, voted unanimously on Wednesday, June 22nd to concur with the CEO’s recommendation to reinstate the assistance in recognition of Niger’s return to democratic rule after a constitutional referendum and free and fair local, parliamentary and presidential elections.  President Issoufou’s inauguration in April marked the full restoration of a government elected directly by the people of Niger.

On the call, Mr. Yohannes stated, “I am pleased to inform you that the Millennium Challenge Corporation Board of Directors voted this week to lift the suspension on threshold assistance for Niger. MCC expects all of our partners to continue to demonstrate a commitment to good governance and democracy throughout our relationship. We celebrate the restoration of a democratically elected government in Niger and look forward to working with your government to reduce poverty by promoting economic growth.” 

An MCC delegation will head to Niger in early July to begin discussions on resuming the program.

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Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. Government agency designed to work with developing countries, is based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces sound political, economic, and social policies that promote poverty reduction through economic growth.  For more information, please visit www.mcc.gov.
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