The situation in Niger is deteriorating after the July 26 military coup. On Sunday, thousands of coup supporters protested in front of the French embassy in Niamey and had to be dispersed by tear gas. France has now begun evacuating its citizens from the former French colony and other European countries may do the same.
We are also monitoring the French-language press reporting in Niger. Actu Niger, which is linked on this site, seems to be reporting various aspects of the coup including statements in opposition from abroad. Thus far, however, I have found no mention of the demonstration Sunday in front of the French embassy. One must assume that the Nigerienne press is operating under limited freedom.
The below article from today's France Bleu is translated by Fousesquawk.
In Niger, the operation for the evacuation of French nationals has begun. France decided to evacuate its nationals on Tuesday, "in view of the situation in Niamey", the Foreign Affairs Ministry announced in a press release. The president of Niger was overthrown by a military coup on 26 July 2023.
-Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 08:52-updated Tuesday August 1, 2023 at 20:53.
Almost a week after the military coup d'etat in Niger, France decided Tuesday to evacuate its nationals from Niger, "in view of the situation in Niamey, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a press release. The security situation has worsened for French nationals after a demonstration in front of the French embassy in Niamey on Sunday. "This violence against our embassy and the closure of air space leaves our compatriots without the possibility to leave the country by their own means," explains the Quai d'Orsay (Europe and Foreign Affairs Ministry).
Three planes, Airbus A330, and A330 MRTT (multi-roles) departed from an air base in southern France to the civilian airport at Niamey, according to the General Staff. A first plane took off from Tuesday night from Niamey and will land "early in the evening" at the Charles de Gaulle Paris-Roissy Airport, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced to Agence France Presse. "There are 262 persons on board the plane, which is an Airbus A330, including a dozen babies," stated Catherine Colonna. "Almost all of the passengers are compatriots," she noted, adding that there are "some European nationals."
The message sent earlier on Tuesday by the French embassy to French (nationals) in Niger indicated that "this operation is in coordination with the Nigerienne forces," and instructed French nationals that they will have to "get to the gathering point by their own means".
Some 600 French in Niger
Some 600 French people are currently in Niger. The evacuation is being carried out on a voluntary basis and the take-off of the planes will be "in concert with the number of nationals at the Niamey airport and who decides to leave", without knowing if this evacuation will take several days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that France could also evacuate "European nationals who wish to leave the country". Italy has also announced that it is prepared to evacuate (its) nationals from Niamey.
On Monday, the military, led by General Abdourahmane Tiani, who took power in Niger and overthrew Mohamed Bazoum, accused France of wanting to "militarily intervene", which France denied. The West African neighbors of Niger threatened on Sunday to use "force" if President Bazoum was not restored to office within 7 days, a decision supported by Niamey's Western partners, including France, ex-colonial power in the Sahel region, undermined by jihadist violence. In response, Monday evening, Burkina Faso and Mali affirmed that any military intervention to restore Mohamed Bazoum would be considered, "as a declaration of war" against their two countries.
The head of French diplomacy, Catherine Colonna, denounced the anti-French slogans that were notably (expressed) during a demonstration in front of the French embassy in Niamey Sunday. Thousands of demonstrators favorable to the military putsch attempted to enter the embassy before being dispersed by tear gas canisters.
It is the first time such a massive evacuation of French people has taken place in the Sahel, where other coups d'etat have occurred in Mali and Burkina Faso since 2020. On the other hand, the evacuation of French military personnel posted in Niger, "is not on the agenda," the General Staff of the Armies stated.
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