Title: Evacuation of French nationals to Niger: testimonies on the situation and the choices to stay
Introduction :
On August 1, 2023, France launched an operation to evacuate its nationals from Niger following the coup d’état on July 26 and the attack on the French embassy on July 30. However, some French people chose to stay in Niamey despite the tense situation. In this article, we present to you the testimonies of Moumouni Mahamadou and Stéphane Jullien, two French people living in Niamey, who explain their decision not to leave the Nigerien capital.
Moumouni Mahamadou: confidence and serenity
Moumouni Mahamadou, owner of an establishment in Niamey, decided to stay despite the events. He says he has never been worried and has not noticed any significant change in his daily life since the coup. His business has remained open while respecting curfew restrictions, and he feels safe. He is confident that isolated issues can be managed and that the situation does not require immediate evacuation.
Stéphane Jullien: desire to stay to act logically
Stéphane Jullien, elected French consular in Niger and head of an import-export company, also chose to stay in Niamey. He emphasizes that evacuation is not mandatory, but offered as a voluntary option. He explains that this decision is taken in order to know how events will evolve and to be able to react logically if other evacuations take place. He also emphasizes that he continues to work and pay his employees, as long as restrictions do not prevent him from doing so.
Outlook and closure of evacuations
French authorities plan to end evacuation operations in Niger on August 2 at midday. Four planes have already been chartered to evacuate French citizens. This massive evacuation is the first organized by France in the Sahel, where coups have increased in recent years. It follows the violence that occurred in front of the French embassy in Niamey on July 30. Authorities also fear further unrest to mark Niger’s independence day on August 3.
Conclusion :
Despite the tense situation in Niger, some French people have chosen to stay in Niamey, trusting the security measures put in place and believing that they are not directly concerned by political problems. Their decision to stay is based on their confidence in the future and the desire to continue working and living their daily lives in the Nigerien capital. The ongoing evacuations show the commitment of the French authorities to ensuring the safety of their nationals, while hoping that the situation will stabilize in the days to come.