Foreign nationals formed queues outside an airport in Niger’s capital on Wednesday morning, eagerly waiting for a French military evacuation flight. This comes as regional talks regarding the response to the recent military coup continue. Concerns about potential entrapment arose after President Mohamed Bazoum was detained by soldiers and power was seized. France, Italy, and Spain have all announced plans for evacuations of their citizens and other Europeans in Niamey. The United States, however, has yet to announce its evacuation plans, although some American citizens have already left with the aid of European countries.
According to the French Foreign Ministry, the first two French evacuation flights have successfully transported over 350 French nationals, as well as individuals from Niger and at least 10 other countries. The ministry also stated that two additional evacuation flights are scheduled to land in the capital on Wednesday afternoon. The Foreign Ministry revealed that approximately 1,200 French citizens are registered at the French embassy, with around half of them expressing a desire to be evacuated.
Italy has also conducted a military evacuation, with 99 passengers, including 21 Americans and civilians from various countries, arriving in Rome on an Italian military aircraft. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that permission for the evacuation was granted by the new government. The German government, which has advised its citizens in Niger to utilize French flights for evacuation, has decided against evacuating its approximately 100 troops stationed in the country, as they do not perceive any immediate threats to safety.
At Niamey’s airport, hundreds of people lined up outside the terminal before dawn, hoping to leave. Some individuals slept on the floor while others engaged in activities such as watching television or speaking on the phone. A passenger, who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons, expressed concern over potential reprisal attacks against civilians if neighboring countries intervene militarily. While the atmosphere in Niamey has calmed since violent protests erupted in support of the junta on Sunday, tensions still persist.
During previous evacuation flights on Tuesday, a passenger reported that Nigerien soldiers made derogatory gestures towards the passengers before speeding away, following the escort of an Italian military convoy to the airport.
West African regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued a threat to employ force against the junta if the president is not released and reinstated within a week. However, this ultimatum was promptly opposed by neighboring Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, all of which are ruled by mutinous soldiers who overthrew their respective governments. The leaders of Mali and Burkina Faso claimed that military intervention in Niger would constitute a declaration of war against them. The defense chiefs of ECOWAS’ 15 member states will gather in Abuja, Nigeria, from Wednesday to Friday to discuss the next course of action. Meanwhile, efforts are being made to restore democracy in Niger without resorting to force, as expressed by the U.N. special envoy for West Africa and the Sahel during a virtual meeting.
Nevertheless, other members of the diplomatic community view the use of force as a realistic option. ECOWAS has chosen to employ military force following failed economic and travel sanctions to counter previous coups. The M62 Movement, an activist group organizing protests against France and in favor of Russia, has called on Niamey residents to mobilize and blockade the airport until foreign military forces vacate the country.
Contributors to this report include Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria, Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington DC, John Leicester in Paris, and Frances D’Emilio in Rome, Italy.
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