United States: The United States has ordered the evacuation of some staff and families from its embassy in Niger amid the repercussions of the July coup.
The US State Department spokesperson Mr. Matthew Miller explained in a statement that the measure was taken “out of an abundance of caution” and that the embassy itself would remain open, though only for “limited emergency services.”
“The United States remains committed to our relationship with the people of Niger and to Nigerien democracy. We remain diplomatically engaged at the highest levels,” Mr. Miller noted.
The announcement follows similar moves by European countries to remove non-essential personnel from Niger. Recently, the first of several planned military flights departed from Niger and landed in Paris, carrying 262 people on board, mostly from France and Italy.
The US has further discouraged its citizens from making “unnecessary” travel to Niger, particularly in the capital of Niamey.
The warnings come as tensions in the region spike in the wake of Niger’s President Mr. Mohamed Bazoum’s removal from power. Members of his presidential guard took Mr. Bazoum into custody, declaring “an end” to his administration. General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the head of the guard, named himself leader.
Mr. Bazoum’s swift removal sparked international outcry, especially among Western countries like the US, where he was regarded as a significant ally in Africa’s troubled Sahel region.
Niger alone has witnessed four successful military coups since gaining independence from France, with the latest marking a fifth.
Recently, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional economic and political bloc, issued a communiqué calling Mr. Bazoum’s detention a “hostage situation” and calling for his reinstatement.
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