At least four European countries on Tuesday announced that plans to evacuate their citizens are underway in Niger, days after President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by members of his presidential guard.
“France is preparing the evacuation of its citizens and (other) European citizens who want to leave the country,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that the evacuation would start on Tuesday.
The German foreign ministry said in a statement that the French had “offered, within the limits of available capacity, to take German nationals on board their flights from Niger” and urged its citizens to take the offer.
Italy and Spain have also announced plans to evacuate their citizens in the country. While Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani said there would be a “special flight to Italy”, a spokesperson for the Spanish foreign ministry declined to provide further details about the operation with Reuters news agency, citing security concerns.
The number of European nationals in Niger remains unclear but there are around 70 Spaniards in the country and at least 600 French nationals, according to reports.
Meanwhile, Germany’s foreign ministry said on Monday that it presumes fewer than 100 German citizens are currently in Niger, excluding those who are in the country as part of a Bundeswehr military mission.
A changing landscape
The July 26 removal of Bazoum – the seventh military takeover in less than three years in West and Central Africa – has sent shockwaves across the region.
Source: Aljazeera.com
