Residents of Niamey, the capital of Niger, are responding to the recent announcement of France’s intention to evacuate its nationals from the country.
On Tuesday, both France and Italy made preparations to airlift their citizens and other European residents from Niger.
This decision comes six days after a coup resulted in the ousting of President Mohammed Bazoom, who was considered one of the last pro-Western leaders in the Sahel region, which has been facing challenges from jihadist group
“I dare say that we live in symbiosis with this French population living in Niger, so they really have no reason to repatriate them. As far as we’re concerned, this is yet another failure on the part of French politicians, and one that we all condemn.” Idrissa Adamou Kimba, resident of Niamey
“We don’t have a problem with the French, European nationals, we have problems with European governments, if they said they were going to repatriate their population, they only have to repatriate their army first.” Hamidou Ali, resident of Niamey
Amid the deteriorating security situation in Niamey, the French embassy conveyed a message to its citizens, stating that an air evacuation operation is being organized, taking advantage of the relatively calm conditions in the area.
The evacuations are expected to occur promptly within a short timeframe.
The initial flight from Paris has already departed, and it was reported that unarmed military transporters, capable of accommodating more than 200 people, would be used for the evacuation.
The French foreign ministry estimated that there were about 600 French nationals in Niger but did not disclose the number of individuals wishing to leave.
Meanwhile, an Italian government spokesperson in Rome mentioned that a “special flight” would be provided for Italians who wanted to leave the country, although they emphasized that it was not classified as an evacuation.
In Niamey, one resident, Almoctar Boukari, expressed discontent and held France responsible for the challenges faced by Africans in Niger, urging them to leave the country.
The situation in Niger has drawn regional and international attention. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on Niger and warned of possible military intervention if the coup leaders do not reinstate President Bazoum. The junta accused France of seeking military intervention, which France denied, while neighboring countries under junta rule, Mali and Burkina Faso, warned that any military intervention in Niger would be considered an act of war against them.
Niger is experiencing instability in a nation that has faced multiple coups since gaining independence in 1960. President Bazoum had previously survived two attempted coups before the recent events that led to his detention by the Presidential Guard. However, the junta’s claim to leadership has been rejected internationally by various organizations and countries, including ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations, France, the United States, and the European Union.
The coup in Niger has raised concerns among Western nations dealing with a jihadist insurgency that began in northern Mali in 2012 and spread into Niger and Burkina Faso. This insurgency threatens the stability of fragile states in the Gulf of Guinea region and has resulted in significant loss of life and displacement of populations. France and the United States have had military deployments in the region, with France reconfiguring its force and focusing on Niger last year after withdrawing troops from Mali and Burkina Faso.
The military takeovers in the Sahel region have been accompanied by anti-French and pro-Russian sentiments, with Mali forging closer ties with Russia, leading to the deployment of Russian military hardware and paramilitaries, which Western nations claim to be Wagner mercenaries. The situation remains concerning and complex as regional and international stakeholders seek to address the security challenges in the region.