Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
YAF: Israeli enemy will pay for this crime.
Yemeni Armed Forces: Son of Major General Al-Ghamari martyred alongside him in Israeli aggression.
Yemeni Armed Forces: YAF mourns martyrdom of Chief of the General Staff Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Palestinian shot and killed by IOF east of Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Occupation forces opened machine gun fire toward outskirts of Aitaroun as locals headed for olive harvest.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone drops bomb at outskirts of town of Blida as people head for olive harvest.
Israeli media: Rafah crossing was not opened as planned, and no date has yet been set for the resumption of movement through it.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro: There will be no change in diplomatic relations with Israel until it complies with the agreements.
Maduro: We say to the people of the United States that we do not want war in the Caribbean or in South America.
Maduro: The sadists in America believe they can issue orders for the world to follow, that they rule while others must adapt. But the first to know this is false are the American people themselves.

France evacuates 736 people from Niger: Foreign Ministry

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 3 Aug 2023 08:42
5 Min Read

The French Foreign Ministry says a fourth flight is currently being prepared to evacuate more people from Niger following the coup.

  • x
  • France evacuates 736 people from Niger: Foreign Ministry
    French and other European citizens getting registered for an evacuation flight outside the departure terminal at Niamey's Diori-Hamani international airport, on August 1, 2023 (AFP)

The French Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that France evacuated 736 people from Niger and is currently preparing the next evacuation flight.

Earlier in the day, the ministry said that the first two evacuation flights had landed in Paris, evacuating 350 French nationals, as well as citizens of other countries, including Niger, Portugal, Belgium, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Germany, Canada, India, the United States, and Austria.

"The three flights from Niamey [Niger's capital] have evacuated 736 people, including 498 French citizens. A fourth flight is currently being prepared," the ministry wrote on Twitter.

Later in the day, the ministry added that the fourth evacuation flight left Niger, bringing the total number of evacuees to nearly 1,000.

"The fourth plane with evacuees is heading to France, bringing the number of evacuees to 992, including 560 French citizens, as well as many foreign citizens," the ministry tweeted.

Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra confirmed that six Dutch nationals also left Niger on Wednesday.

"We keep in close contact with Dutch people who are still in Niger and do everything we can to get those who want to leave on a flight," Hoekstra added in a statement.

On July 30, thousands of people took to the streets against France and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the Nigerien capital of Niamey, opposing their condemnation of the coup in the country.

Following the protest, France started evacuating its citizens and other European nationals. On Tuesday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also said that the European Union had decided to evacuate all its citizens from Niger.

Read more: Niger reopens land borders with neighboring nations after coup

US to evacuate embassy staff, families from Niger

Related News

Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger to withdraw from ICC, cite 'repression'

Ghana agrees to take in West African migrants deported from US

In the same context, Reuters reported, citing an anonymous US official, that the United States is preparing to evacuate some staff and their families from its embassy in Niger following the coup.

The US official explained that the decision to evacuate personnel was a precautionary measure in case the security situation worsened, but the core embassy staff would remain in place.

The official added that the US personnel would be evacuated out of Niger in a civilian aircraft. 

France, the United States, Germany, and Italy have military forces on the ground in Niger under the pretext of fighting terrorism. 

As of now, there has been no announcement of troop withdrawals from Niger. The United States currently maintains around 1,100 troops in the country, operating from two bases.

On July 26, Niger's presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum. The guard's commander, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, proclaimed himself the country's new leader.

The French Foreign Ministry said that French President Emmanuel Macron had spoken to Bazoum last week and that Paris continued to recognize him as the only legitimate leader of the African country.

Military intervention in Niger 'last resort': ECOWAS

Also on Wednesday, senior ECOWAS official, Abdel-Fatau Musah, said during a meeting of ECOWAS military chiefs held in the Nigerian capital Abuja, that the West African bloc has affirmed its position that military intervention in Niger to reinstate Bazoum would constitute a "last resort", noting that negotiations are currently being held with the military junta.

"(The) military option is the very last option on the table, the last resort, but we have to prepare for the eventuality," Musah indicated.

During the meeting, the leaders discussed options for military intervention in Niger. A source familiar with the talks told reporters that the goal of the meeting is to outline a plan for the intervention, its strategy, logistical aspects, and timetable.

On Monday, the interim governments of Mali and Burkina Faso warned that any military intervention against Niger would be considered a declaration of war against them.

Niger sanctioned with electricity cuts 

As part of the measures aimed at choking the military junta in Niger, neighboring country Nigeria has cut all its electricity supplies to Niger -- which accounts for 70% of Niger's electricity. 

"Since yesterday, Nigeria has disconnected the high-voltage line transporting electricity to Niger," a source at Niger's power company Nigelec told AFP.

As part of regional "efforts" to reinstate Bazoum, ECOWAS implemented a series of sanctioning measures, including suspending all financial aid to Niger, freezing the assets of the coup leaders, as well as those of their families and supporters, and imposing a ban on commercial flights to and from the country.

  • West Africa
  • Niamey
  • Niger Coup
  • France
  • Niger
  • French Foreign Ministry

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
A person shops at a grocery store in Schaumburg, Ill., Thursday, September 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Economy

75% of Americans report higher costs despite Trump’s inflation claim

With the government shutdown now in its third week, a sign turns away tourists at the entrance to the Capitol Visitor Center, in Washington, Wednesday, October 15, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Politics

US judge blocks shutdown layoffs amid Trump threats to cut jobs

Bill Ackman speaks about higher education and Harvard University at the twenty-eighth annual Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on May 6, 2025. (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)
Politics

Bill Ackman donates $1M to anti-Mamdani PAC in NYC mayoral race

Members of the Pentagon press corp carry their belongings out of the Pentagon after turning in their press credentials, on October 15, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
US & Canada

Pentagon journalists vacate workspaces as new restrictions take effect

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS