France to begin evacuating citizens from Niger after embassy attacks

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Aug 2023 14:19

An estimated 600 French nationals reside in Niger, which does not take into tourists or French residents not currently present in the country.

Supporters of the military council demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, Thursday, July 27 2023 (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

The foreign ministry of France announced on Tuesday that the process of evacuating its citizens from Niger will begin, which was prompted by claimed attacks on the French embassy in the capital of Niamey.

In its statement, the foreign ministry stated that the closure of Niger's airspace meant commercial flights were impossible, while it justified its evacuation decision earlier in the day to be due to "a deteriorating security situation in Niamey" but no time was given.

An estimated 600 French nationals reside in Niger, which does not take into tourists or French residents not currently present in the country.

Additionally, the French foreign ministry offered to evacuate other European nationals while the French government held a ministerial meeting today to decide on how to carry out the evacuation.

According to a source familiar with the operation to AFP, military personnel transport planes will be used to evacuate.

The coup in Niger follows a pattern of coups across the African continent such as Burkina Faso and Mali.

Niger's new junta said on Monday that its former colonial ruler, France, is looking for ways to intervene militarily to "sabotage the revolution" and reinstate the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.

"In its search for ways and means to intervene militarily in Niger, France with the complicity of some Nigeriens, held a meeting with the chief of staff of the Nigerien National Guard to obtain the necessary political and military authorization needed," said a statement on national television.

This comes a day after military leaders in Niger have warned against any armed intervention in their country, stressing that they will "resolutely defend their homeland."

Later that day, ECOWAS gave a one-week ultimatum for the military junta to reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum, held by the military since last Wednesday.