Partial Evacuation of US Embassy in Niger Ordered Following Coup

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The US embassy in Niger is being partially evacuated due to the recent military coup and the threat of force from neighboring countries if constitutional order is not restored. The state department has ordered non-emergency personnel and their families to leave, underscoring the security challenges faced by Washington in responding to the situation. The US considers Niger an important regional partner.

“Given ongoing developments in Niger and out of an abundance of caution, the Department of State is ordering the temporary departure of non-emergency US government personnel and eligible family members from the US embassy in Niamey,” said state department spokesman Matthew Miller. The embassy will still offer limited emergency services to US citizens. Kathleen FitzGibbon, the newly appointed US ambassador to Niger, is expected to arrive in the country soon.

France has already started voluntary evacuation efforts for French and European citizens who wish to leave Niger.

Mohamed Bazoum, who was seen as a key ally in the Sahel region, was overthrown as president last week, adding further instability to an already troubled region that has seen military coups in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso in recent years.

Over the weekend, a group of West African leaders led by Nigerian president Bola Tinubu threatened military action against the new junta if the toppled democratic government was not restored within seven days. The US, France, EU, and Britain condemned the coup and suspended aid to Niger.

Defence chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States are meeting in Abuja to mediate a solution to the crisis. Nigeria has also increased pressure on the Niger junta by cutting off electricity, as it supplies over 70% of the country’s power.

Although the US has not officially declared the events in Niger a coup, doing so would result in the termination of US security assistance. Currently, there are approximately 1,100 US troops in Niger, and the Pentagon has no plans to remove them. However, security cooperation has been suspended since the coup.

The Pentagon has stated that there will be no changes to the US military’s posture during the evacuation, and the state department has not requested personnel or equipment from the Department of Defense for the ordered departure. The focus remains on finding a diplomatic solution.

The state department has provided a link on X (formerly Twitter) for US citizens in Niger who wish to leave and require assistance.