Title: The evacuation of French nationals from Niger following the coup d’état: a relief tinged with concerns
Introduction :
The situation in Niger following the coup d’état against President Mohamed Bazoum led to the evacuation of French nationals present in the country. In this article, we will look at the progress of this evacuation operation, the relief felt by the repatriated people, but also the concerns that remain about the future of the country.
Relief for evacuees:
On the night of August 1 to 2, 2023, the first plane of the evacuation operation landed in Paris, carrying 262 people from Niamey, the capital of Niger. Among them, the majority are French, but also nationals of other nationalities. After hours of flight and uncertainty about their future, passengers expressed a sense of relief upon setting foot on French soil.
However, this relief is tinged with concerns about the situation in Niger. Some evacuees express sadness at leaving the country in a hostage situation rather than a simple coup. They remain attentive to developments in the situation in the days and weeks to come, knowing that they are leaving their Nigerien colleagues and friends behind.
Concerns for the future of Niger:
While some evacuees are primarily concerned about their personal safety and that of their loved ones, others are more worried about the political and social consequences of the situation in Niger. They wonder about the stability of the country and the repercussions that this could have on the Nigerien population.
Furthermore, the operation to evacuate French nationals only concerns civilians. The French soldiers remain there, which raises questions about their security and their role in this period of political transition.
A large-scale evacuation operation:
The pace of air rotations will accelerate in the coming days in order to repatriate around 400 other French people residing in Niger. Of the 1,200 French people living in the country, around 600 have asked to leave Niger. Other Western countries, such as Italy and Spain, are also preparing evacuation operations for their nationals.
Conclusion :
The operation to evacuate French nationals from Niger following the coup d’état was a relief for those who were able to return to France. However, these evacuees remain concerned about the future of Niger and the consequences of this political crisis on the Nigerien population. It now remains to closely monitor developments in the situation in the country and hope for a return to stability and peace for the Nigerien people.