European countries to begin evacuation of citizens from coup-hit Niger

News Desk :
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, reports Al Jazeera and news agencies.
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.
While the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has imposed sanctions on Niger and threatened the possible use of force if Bazoum is not reinstated within a week, the military governments of Burkina Faso and Mali have said any external military aggression in Niger would be considered an act of war against them.
On Sunday, supporters of the coup burned French flags and attacked the French embassy in Niger’s capital, Niamey. Afterward, French President Emmanuel Macron said any attacks on French interests in Niger would be met with a “swift and uncompromising response”.

French nuclear fuels company Orano said its activities were continuing in Niger and would not be affected by the evacuations, as 99 percent of staff were Nigerien nationals.
France has had troops in the region for a decade helping to fight armed groups, but some locals say they want the former colonial ruler to stop intervening in their affairs.
Landlocked Niger has had a turbulent political history since gaining independence in 1960. Before Wednesday, there had been four coups and numerous other attempts, including two previously against Bazoum.