Niger crisis: France plans to evacuate its people and other European citizens

France on Tuesday began preparing to evacuate French and European citizens from Niger after a military coup in Niger was supported by three West African countries ruled by rebel soldiers. It has asked its citizens not to carry any luggage other than a small bag. The French Foreign Ministry in Paris cited the recent violence that targeted the French embassy in Niger’s capital Niamey as the reason for its decision. The ministry said the closure of Niger’s airport “has made it difficult for our French citizens to leave the country by their own means”. A campaign to evacuate French and other Europeans is being launched in Niger amid a deepening crisis sparked by last week’s coup against democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

The French ministry said in a statement that the campaign begins on Tuesday for French and other European citizens who want to leave Niger. No further details were given from his side. The ministry said that there are currently hundreds of French nationals estimated to be in Niger. French and other Europeans have packed their bags in hotels in Niger’s capital, Niamey, waiting for news on when and where the evacuation operation will begin. There are people among them who were working in Niger for years. “My work is not over,” said a former French military officer tasked with training Niger’s army. I hope this situation ends soon and one day we return. It happened very quickly and no one knew it was happening. I am really surprised.

The West African regional organization known as ECOWAS on Sunday announced sanctions against Niger and said it would use force if the coup leaders do not reinstate Bazoum in his post within a week. Meanwhile, in a joint statement, the military governments of Mali and Burkina Faso said that “any military intervention against Niger would be considered a declaration of war against Burkina and Mali.” On Sunday, Guinea also sided with Niger’s military government. issued a statement and appealed to the IOWAS to ‘come to their senses’. The French Embassy in Niamey sent an email to French citizens informing them of plans to evacuate them from Niger. The message said they would be deplaned and that the spouses and children of French citizens would also be entitled to the scheme. The embassy has asked people to pack a small bag per person and to take water, food, phones and batteries with them.

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